Hosepipe Ban Extended Until End of September for 13 Counties as Uisce Éireann Warns of Continued Pressure
Uisce Éireann has extended the hosepipe ban until the end of September for 13 counties — including Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Limerick, Waterford, and Wicklow — while lifting restrictions for 13 other counties where recent rainfall has improved water stability, in a partial relaxation of the nationwide Water Conservation Order that has been in place since July.
Background
The nationwide Water Conservation Order was introduced by Uisce Éireann on 24 July 2026 following an extended period of exceptionally warm and dry weather that placed significant stress on water supplies across the country. The order prohibited the use of hosepipes for activities including watering gardens, washing private motor vehicles or leisure boats, and filling domestic swimming pools, paddling pools, ponds, and ornamental fountains.
Ireland's water infrastructure has been under sustained pressure for several years, with Uisce Éireann — the national water utility established in 2014 — working to address decades of underinvestment in water treatment, storage, and distribution networks. The combination of population growth, particularly in the greater Dublin area and along the eastern seaboard, and the increasing frequency of dry summers associated with climate change has created a structural challenge that goes beyond any single drought event.
The summer of 2026 has been one of the driest on record in parts of Leinster and Munster, with some weather stations recording less than 40% of their average July and August rainfall. Groundwater levels in the east and south of the country fell to levels not seen since the drought of 2018, and several smaller water schemes serving rural communities experienced supply interruptions that required emergency tanker deliveries.
Key Developments
On 24 August, Uisce Éireann announced that the Water Conservation Order would be lifted for 13 counties — Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, and Westmeath — effective 26 August, following rainfall that improved water stability in those areas. However, the ban was extended until the end of September for the remaining 13 counties: Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow.
Uisce Éireann noted that these areas required additional time for their water supplies to recover, with groundwater levels and reservoir storage still below the thresholds needed to safely lift restrictions. The utility warned that even with the extension, any prolonged dry spell in September could require further measures, and urged households in the affected counties to continue conserving water even for uses not covered by the formal ban.
The ban prohibits the use of hosepipes for garden watering, car washing, and filling pools and ponds, but does not restrict indoor water use. Uisce Éireann has indicated that it will review the situation weekly and will lift the ban in the remaining counties as soon as conditions allow.
Why It Matters
The hosepipe ban is a visible symptom of a deeper structural challenge facing Ireland's water system. The country's water infrastructure was built for a different climate and a smaller population, and the combination of population growth and increasingly erratic weather patterns — with wetter winters and drier summers becoming more common — is exposing the limitations of the existing system. Uisce Éireann has a capital investment programme running to 2030 that includes significant upgrades to water treatment capacity, leakage reduction, and storage, but the pace of delivery has been slower than originally planned, partly due to planning delays and supply chain pressures. The extension of the ban to 13 counties, including Dublin — home to more than a third of the country's population — is a significant inconvenience for households and businesses, and it has renewed calls for faster progress on water infrastructure investment. For context, the Republic's water loss rate — the proportion of treated water that leaks from the distribution network before reaching customers — remains among the highest in Europe, at approximately 40%.
Local Impact
In Dublin, the ban affects hundreds of thousands of households across the city and county, including areas served by the Vartry, Leixlip, and Ballymore Eustace water treatment plants. Garden centres and car washes in the affected counties have reported significant revenue losses since the ban was introduced in July, and some have called for compensation from the government. In Cork, the ban covers the city and county, including areas served by the Lee Road and Inniscarra water treatment plants. Uisce Éireann has indicated that it is working with local authorities in the affected counties to identify any households or businesses that may be experiencing supply difficulties and to prioritise repairs to leaking mains in the most affected areas.
What's Next
Uisce Éireann will review the situation in the 13 counties where the ban remains in force on a weekly basis, with the next formal review scheduled for the week of 1 September. The utility has indicated that it will lift the ban in individual counties as soon as water supply conditions allow, rather than waiting for a single nationwide decision. Households in the affected counties are advised to continue conserving water and to report any leaks or burst mains to Uisce Éireann's customer service line. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has indicated that it will consider whether any additional emergency measures are needed if the dry conditions persist into September.
