The National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) has appealed to its members to use water wisely with a ‘very real danger that the situation will deteriorate’ due to the current heatwave.
"As the exceptionally high water demand currently being experienced has potential implications for human health, the NFGWS is urging group water scheme members to use water wisely and to avoid all unnecessary use.
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"With emerging evidence of sources being under stress in the GWS sector, there is a very real danger that the situation will deteriorate in the coming days as high temperatures and lack of rainfall will inevitably put pressure on lake reservoirs and on spring sources in particular.
"Apart from having less water available, the increase of at least 50/% in water demand currently being experienced in the sector is putting pressure on treatment systems also.
These systems have a design capacity and where this is exceeded treatment systems (and especially filtration) cannot operate as effectively.
This increases the risk of contaminants entering the drinking water supply.
"For spring supplies, as the aquifer is depleted, raw water quality deteriorates and this too puts pressure on treatment plants.
While water leaks are lower on group schemes that those on Irish Water supplies the usage is much higer.
NFGWS representative Brian McDonald said wise usage is critical.