Fines of up to €5,000 for breaches of hosepipe ban as restrictions come into force this week

Households and businesses that breach the incoming hosepipe ban could face fines of up to €5,000, as Uisce Éireann moves to protect public water supplies following weeks of exceptionally warm and dry weather.

The Water Conservation Order, commonly known as a hosepipe ban, comes into effect at 12.01am on Thursday, July 16, and is due to remain in place until August 26.

The restrictions apply to Dublin, South Tipperary and parts of Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Wexford, where water supplies have come under significant pressure because of soaring demand and a lack of rainfall.

Under the order, the use of hosepipes for non-essential purposes is prohibited. That includes watering gardens, washing private cars and boats, filling domestic swimming or paddling pools, topping up ornamental fountains and filling most garden ponds.

Anyone who breaches the order commits an offence under the Water Services Act and, on summary conviction, could face a fine of up to €5,000.

Uisce Éireann says domestic water use across the country is currently around 20 per cent above normal levels, driven largely by outdoor water use during the prolonged spell of hot weather. In the Greater Dublin Area alone, demand recently reached 693 million litres in a single day—around 50 million litres higher than the average. The utility says treatment plants and reservoirs in affected areas are operating under sustained pressure.

The company says it has already introduced a range of measures to help maintain supplies, including increased leak repair work, pressure management and public conservation campaigns. However, it says reducing non-essential water use is now necessary to ensure there is enough water for homes, hospitals, schools, farms and businesses.

While the order currently applies only to the affected areas, Uisce Éireann has warned that restrictions could be extended to other parts of the country if dry weather persists and demand remains high.