Uisce Éireann has confirmed to The Munster Express that a Water Conservation Order — commonly known as a hosepipe ban — will come into effect across County Waterford from Saturday, 26 July 2025, until 16 September, 2025.
The Water Conservation Order has been issued in a bid to safeguard the water supply for essential purposes.
In accordance with statutory requirements, public notices outlining the restrictions will appear in national newspapers on 24 July, 2025. These restrictions include the use of garden hoses and other non-essential water uses.
The implementation of this Order follows a long period of dry weather combined with high demand, now placing severe pressure on water supplies across the county.
It is essential that a Water Conservation Order is introduced to reduce the potential of restrictions and outages over the coming weeks and months.
The data tells us that rainfall in Waterford during May, June, and July this year to date has been significantly below average when compared to long-term rainfall records. A total of 104mm of rainfall was measured at the Moore Park, weather station during this period, compared to an average of 219.6mm for the same months in previous years — nearly 49% less rainfall recorded locally.
Fionnuala Callery, Regional Technical Operations Manager for Water at Uisce Éireann, said: “We will continue to monitor water consumption while the Order remains in place. Protecting our water supply is essential if we are to avoid more severe restrictions or supply interruptions in the weeks and months ahead.
“We are also actively engaging with commercial water users to support their conservation efforts and reduce unnecessary usage.
“There are many simple but effective ways to save water — from taking shorter showers to reusing household water in the garden. The key message is: leave the hose and pressure washer in the shed. We are calling on everyone to do their part so we can maintain a sustainable water supply throughout the summer,” Fionnuala added.
The Conservation Order prohibits the use of garden hosepipes and other non-essential uses of water by domestic users, as well as commercial premises for non-commercial activities — such as watering gardens attached to a business premises.
To support households and businesses in conserving water, Uisce Éireann has developed an easy-to-use Water Conservation Calculator, which allows users to estimate how much water they’re saving and how to save even more. The calculator and additional tips are available on the Water Conservation section of our website.
Members of the public can report leaks in the public water network 24/7 by calling 1800 278 278 or visiting water.ie.
OTHER HOSEPIPE BANS
Water Conservation Orders have also been imposed in County Wexford, Tipperary, and Cork (excluding the city of Cork). These are in addition to the three existing Water Conservation Orders which remain in place for Mullingar, Co Westmeath; Milford, Co Donegal; and Kells-Oldcastle, Co Meath.
THE PROHIBITED USES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Use of water drawn through a hosepipe or similar apparatus for the purpose of –
I. watering a garden
II. cleaning a private motor-vehicle using a domestic hosepipe
III. cleaning a private leisure boat
iv. filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool (except when using hand-held containers filled directly from a tap)
v. filling or maintaining a domestic pond (excluding fish ponds)
vi. filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain (with the exception of such use for commercial purposes)
vii. filling or replenishing an artificial pond, lake or similar application.
Should the prevailing weather conditions, and likely or actual serious deficiency of water available for distribution continue, it may be necessary to extend the proposed order to other uses and for a longer period of time, by way of additional order(s).
The proposed order may be lifted before the end of the specified period if possible, or lifted in specific area(s), having regard to the prevailing weather conditions and the availability of water for distribution.
