Main pic: Water levels at Lough Colmcille, which supplies the Milford area, remain under severe pressure.
Uisce Éireann has announced an extension of the Water Conservation Order on the Milford Regional Public Water Supply.
The order will now remain in effect for an additional seven weeks, until Monday, August 4. The order only applies to customers supplied by the public water supply in Milford, Kerrykeel, Ramelton, and not the rest of the county.
Despite recent cooler and wetter weather, the water levels at Lough Colmcille (which supplies water to the Milford area) remain critically low.
Water levels at the lake are lower than historically recorded for this time of year (see main pic). Seasonal trends indicate that water levels are expected to continue decreasing throughout the summer. Significant and sustained rainfall is needed for the source to recover.
Forecasts predict a return to warmer, drier weather next week, potentially increasing demand and further straining the already limited supply.
Damien O’Sullivan, Uisce Éireann’s Water Network Operations Manager for Donegal, emphasized the importance of protecting the water supply for homes, businesses, and essential services.
“I’d like to thank the communities in Milford, Ramelton and Kerrykeel for abiding by the Water Conservation Order. I urge them to continue their adherence over the next seven weeks,” he stated.
“We also appreciate the public’s efforts in reporting leaks and conserving water. Despite these combined efforts and recent rainfall, Lough Colmcille remains under significant pressure, with water levels below the usual levels for this time of year. This situation stems from substantially reduced rainfall over the past six months, coupled with a marked increase in water demand in Milford due to area growth over the past few years.”
“While Ireland is often perceived as a rainy country, data reveals an unusually warm and dry autumn and winter. Consequently, Lough Colmcille’s seasonal recharge has been insufficient, leaving us with lower-than-average water levels heading into the summer.”
Mr. O’Sullivan added that Uisce Éireann has intensified its efforts in leakage detection, pipe repair, and overall network management.
“We’ve implemented several measures to reduce demand and are supplementing Milford’s supply from nearby sources to allow Lough Colmcille to replenish. This has resulted in a 40% reduction in water drawn from Lough Colmcille since last October. We’ve also dedicated additional resources to finding and repairing critical leaks in the network and launched a public information campaign to promote year-round water conservation.”
The Water Conservation Order prohibits the use of garden hosepipes and other non-essential water uses by domestic and commercial properties for non-commercial purposes. This measure is vital for ensuring sufficient water supplies for homes, businesses, and essential services.
Key Tips to Conserve Water:
- Fix Leaks: Repair running overflows and dripping taps, cisterns, and pipes immediately.
- Ditch the Hose: Use a watering can instead of a hose or sprinkler for your plants.
- Turn Off the Tap: Leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth wastes up to 6 litres per minute. Turn it off and use just 1 litre.
- Choose Showers: Showers use about half the water of baths.
- Shorten Showers: Reduce your shower time by a minute, and you could saving up to 7 litres of water per day!
- Load Fully: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machines are fully loaded before use. A modern washing machine uses around 65 litres per cycle, while a dishwasher uses 20 litres. Full loads conserve water and reduce energy bills.
- Keep Water Cool: Keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of running the cold tap to get a cold drink; this prevents water waste.
- Water Calculator: Find out your family’s water usage and get tips for improvement at www.water.ie/calculator.
Hosepipe ban extended to August for Milford Public Water Supply was last modified: June 13th, 2025 by
Tags:
