CLARE’S water drought is set to continue into the coming week with the water ban to stay in place.
A spokesperson for Clare County Council said it was informed by Met Eireann that the soil moisture deficit levels in Clare are among the lowest in the country.
Even the rain has made no impact on the county’s water levels.
The county, that had one of the highest levels of rainfall just seven months ago and one of its wettest Novembers on record, is now technically in a drought.
The rainfall so far this year is one of the lowest ever, and the rain last week was equally low.
Just 20 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in Ennis last Wednesday.
Clare County Council’s reservoirs and water supplies are now significantly low.
“The rainfall over the last week was insufficient to replenish supplies,” the council spokesperson said.
“The outlook does not indicate significant rainfall so the ban and conservation measures will remain until further notice.”
This remains bad news for those living in Ennis, north Clare and the Tulla and Kiltannon District Electoral Divisions.
Water users in these areas can be fined up to €5,000 if found in breach of the restrictions set down by the local authority under Section 56(16) of the Water Services Act 2007.
The restrictions which will remain in place until at least the end of this month include a complete ban on hosepipe or “similar apparatus” for the purpose of watering a garden, watering recreational parks or sports grounds, either generally or any particular type of such park or ground, irrigating or spraying crops, either generally or any particular type of crop, or washing a mechanically propelled vehicle or a trailer.
Anyone who contravenes this order will according to Clare County Council be committing an offence and is liable on “summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000”.
Alternatively a person may be subject to an ‘on-the-spot’ fine of €125.
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