UPDATE: Generators and water tankers deployed as work to restore Longford water supplies continues

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

We continue 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.

Power has been restored to water treatment plants for Longford town and surrounding areas and Newtowncashel. Production at these locations has resumed. However, with reservoirs depleted it will be tomorrow (Monday, January 27) before customers see a return of supply. 

Also read: Longford among worst hit counties as over 100,000 households nationwide still without water following Storm Éowyn

Where power has not been restored generators have been deployed to other water treatment plants including Smear, Granard, Abbeyshrule, and Lanesboro.

As production resumes reservoirs will begin to refill. Customers will begin to see a return to normal supply over the coming days.

Also read: Longford homes could be left without power up until February 6 as a result of Storm Éowyn

Uisce Éireann is urging customers to conserve water where possible as it returns in order to allow reservoir levels to build and protect supply.

Alternative water supplies remain in place with additional locations added at the following locations: 

• Cathedral carpark, Longford Town
• Tesco carpark, Longford Town
• Library carpark, Edgeworthstown
• The Mart, Ballymahon, 
• The village carpark, Aughnacliffe, 
• Carpark behind Garda Station, Granard
• Carpark beside the Bridge, Lanesboro

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.

The impacts initially nationwide are more localised now with the East and South most improved. Areas most impacted are along the West Coast and Midlands and include Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Donegal and Longford.

Updates on local supplies issues are being provided on the Úisce Eireann website, www.water.ie, as they become available.

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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.

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“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 customers 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.

Customers 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 our free text alert service via the website. Alternatively get in touch via our 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278.