Ireland issues six-week hosepipe ban effective July 16

A six-week hosepipe ban has been imposed across several counties in Ireland, effective from early Thursday, July 16, 2026, as a severe and prolonged heatwave continues to strain water supplies to critical levels. The water conservation order, issued by the national utility Uisce Éireann, will remain in place until August 26 and applies to Dublin, south Tipperary, and parts of Kildare, Meath, Wexford, and Wicklow.

The ban prohibits the use of hosepipes for watering gardens, washing vehicles, filling paddling pools, and cleaning patios or driveways. Officials stated that breaches could result in fines of up to 5,000 euros. Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated phone line for reporting violations, a measure a company spokesperson said was intended to prevent neighborhood disputes by allowing anonymous reporting.

The order is a direct response to what officials describe as "exceptionally warm and dry weather" that has driven water demand to record levels. Daily water use in the Greater Dublin Area recently reached 693 million litres, approximately 50 million litres above the year-to-date average. Nationally, domestic water use is about 20 percent above normal levels, placing...