Overnight restrictions in place on Lough Mourne Water Supply

Homeowners on the Lough Mourne water supply have been told there will be overnight restrictions to supply.

Irish Water is asking customers to check for leaks and help maintain the supply.

Irish Water say there as been a 'noticeable increase in water usage on the network'.

In order to facilitate the replenishment of reservoirs and ensure a daytime supply, overnight restrictions are required from 10pm to 7am until further notice.

The areas affected include Ballybofey and Stranorlar, Liscooley Group Water Scheme, Rossgier to Porthall and Rossgier to Cavan Hill and customers served by the Tievebrack, Ballynacor and Gleneely/Lismullaghduff Reservoirs.

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Customers on high ground may experience loss of pressure or loss of supply during these hours, Irish Water say.

Operations Lead with Irish Water, Seamus O’Brien said: “While our raw water reservoirs and sources are full at this time of year, demand for water has increased and is putting pressure on the supply of treated water in our storage reservoirs.

“Irish Water crews are on the ground, working in partnership with Donegal County Council, to maintain supply and we are asking customers to turn off taps and check for leaks.”

The sub-zero temperatures in recent days have increased the number of frozen water pipes and bursts, causing increased demand on water supplies across the region.

Freezing water expands and strains the pipes until they crack or burst, not only impacting older, weakened pipes but also modern pipes that are laid in shallow ground and vulnerable to temperature drops.

Mr O'Brien said: “We also recommend that people don’t run taps continually as this is not an effective way of preventing frozen pipes and can cause other problems such as frozen drains.

“It also puts further pressure on water supplies that are already challenged by the freezing conditions. For example, in one rural location this year a single hosepipe left running overnight resulted in 60 people being without water."