Uisce Éireann Extends Water Ban for 13 Irish Counties

The national water utility Uisce Éireann has extended a Water Conservation Order until midnight on September 30, 2026, for 13 counties across the east and south of Ireland. The restrictions apply to Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow. A separate nationwide order, originally introduced on July 24 following hot, dry weather, will expire on August 26 for 13 other counties, including Galway, Kerry, and Donegal.

The extension is driven by prolonged drought, high demand, and significant soil moisture deficits. In Carlow, rainfall between July 1 and August 23 was only 8.6 mm, a sharp decline from 97.3 mm during the same period last year. In Cork, demand at the Crookhaven raw water impoundment peaked at 202,000 litres per day in August, compared to a 60,000-litre average in April.

The order prohibits using hosepipes or similar equipment for watering gardens, washing cars or boats, and filling domestic pools or fountains. To maintain resilience, the utility is repairing leaks, maximizing production, and supplementing supplies via tankering operations in areas such as Myshall, Fenagh, and Ballon. Officials are urging the public to avoid non-essential water use to ensure available supplies for hospitals, farms, and vulnerable customers.