Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2617. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there are emergency regulations, such as the hosepipe ban, regarding the use of large quantities of water for irrigation other than for food production. [32558/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 2 July 2018 Irish Water imposed a Water Conservation Order for the Greater Dublin Area applicable to all domestic public water supplies and commercial premises for non-commercial activities. This was followed on Friday 6 July 2018 by a National Water Conservation Order. Both orders will remain in place until 31 July 2018 and may be extended beyond that date subject to ongoing review by Irish Water.
Section 56 of the Water Services Act 2007 confers powers on a water services authority in respect of the conservation of water where it is necessary to prevent wastage or excessive consumption. Clauses 16 to 25 of section 56 in particular make statutory provision for the introduction of a range of restrictions, such as those currently in place, designed to conserve water supplies by preventing non-essential usage when supplies are under threat.
Specified restrictions may include, but are not limited to, watering a garden, the watering of recreational parks or sports grounds, irrigating or spraying crops, washing vehicles, provision of commercial washing services for a vehicle or trailer or filling or replenishing a swimming pool or an artificial pond or lake.
In practice the restrictions may apply to specified activities for all or specified parts of the day.
Notwithstanding these contingency measures necessary to deal with prolonged dry weather, we continue to face fundamental long term water conservation challenges. Past under-investment in our water infrastructure means we are contending with high network loss rates while many of our water and wastewater treatment plants are operating at maximum capacity.
The Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025 published on 21 May 2018 sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across the three thematic areas of Quality, Conservation, and Future Proofing, which must be pursued when planning capital investment and framing current spending plans. Under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 €8.5 billion has been committed to improving the public water system over the next 10 years.
