Irish Water is looking for new sources of drinking water in Laois.
This comes as an Environmental Protection Agency report on supplies across the country finds that 56 percent are approaching record low levels.
The Irish Independent have reported warnings that unless there is substantial rainfall, restrictions will have to be imposed later in the year.
Results from 194 monitoring stations across rivers, lakes and groundwater sources show that 108 gauges are approaching record lows.
Restrictions could happen
A new borehole at Bennettsbridge, county Kilkenny has also had to be built in recent weeks. The EPA have stated that unless substantial amounts of rainfall are seen, restrictions may have to be imposed later in the year.
“The initial bursts of rain are going to have little impact. It will take substantial amounts of rain to change that. It could be late September or October,” said the EPA’s Matthew Craig.
“We are looking at new water sources, but it’s only an interim solution to supplement what’s already there,” an Irish Water spokesperson said.
“A few weeks ago, things were very critical with the farming community (in Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny) and we dug a borehole and put a larger pump on it. It’s not a solution everywhere. We’re also looking at Castlecomer and a number of schemes in Laois as well.
“It’s not just about new boreholes, it’s looking at the efficacy of the ones that are there, and seeing if they need bigger or improved pumps as well,” the Irish Water spokesperson added.
Weeks of drought conditions have led to a national hosepipe ban and introduce night-time restrictions in areas of Dublin and Wicklow.
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