Areas across Westmeath still without water

Uisce Éireann crews are on the ground across Westmeath continuing work to restore water supplies.

Power outages at pumping stations across the network continue to impact on supplies across the county this afternoon.

Supply challenges are being felt in areas fed from the Mullingar Regional Water supply, including Gaybrook, Gainestown, Enniscoffey, Knockaville, Coralstown, Kinnegad, Killucan, Rathwire, Thomastown, Castletown Geoghan, Kilpatrick and Bunbrosna.

Alternative water supplies are currently available at the following locations:

Milltownpass at the Mullingar Road junction

Gainestown School carpark

Adamstown, Castletown

Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from tankers and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure.

In the North of the county customers may be experiencing low water pressure in the following areas:

Archerstown, Mulliganstown, Castlepollard, Delvin, Whitehall, Drumacree, Raharney, Mabestown and Coole.

Uisce Éireann said it continues to actively source and transfer generators to sites where power has not been restored.

"We are co-ordinating closely with the ESB to prioritise power restoration and we are also liaising with other agencies including the National Emergency Co-ordination Group and local authorities."

Nationally, approximately 109,000 people across the country have no water this afternoon following Storm Éowyn. An additional 112,000 people are now being supplied by schemes where generators have been deployed by Uisce Éireann crews. Supplies for a further 126,000 people are at risk in areas where power is yet to be restored.

Head of Water Operations at Uisce Éireann, Margaret Attridge noted that while positive progress had been made overnight, the number of people experiencing loss of supply due to power outages remains significant.

“This unprecedented storm event has had a severe impact on our water and wastewater network nationwide. Our crews are on the ground in all impacted areas working to restore water services as quickly as possible, but given the extent of the damage to the power network, it may take some time before full service is restored everywhere. We apologise to customers who have been without water for a few days and ask for the public’s continued patience during this challenging time, some customers are also operating with restricted service as treated water storage reservoirs and networks recharge.

“In locations where water supplies have been impacted for longer periods, we are deploying alternative water supplies. Details of these supplies and their locations are being posted across our website and social media channels as they become available,” she added.

Margaret is also urging the public to conserve water where possible in order to protect supply while the outages are resolved. There are some simple steps people can take to conserve their water, such as avoiding the use of water-intensive appliances during this time.

To learn more about conserving water, visit www.water.ie/conserve.

The public can stay informed about their local water supply by visiting www.water.ie, via Uisce Éireann’s X feed, @IWCare, or by signing up for afree text alert service via the website. Alternatively get in touch via the 24/7 care centre at 1800 278 278.