THERE IS water, water everywhere – but still none to spare in Dublin’s reservoirs.
Early this month, Dublin City Council issued a water-conservation plea following the exceptionally dry spring, and warned restrictions would be “unavoidable” if the dry spell continued.
Since then the heavens have opened, with last week being exceptionally wet. Between 10mm and 20mm of rain (about ¾in) fell in greater Dublin last Sunday and there were heavy showers on Wednesday and Thursday, but not enough to replenish the reservoirs.
In a statement, Dublin City Council said the situation was still critical and, while the threat of water restrictions had receded in the short term, it did not mean things were back to normal.
The council warned of no “notable improvement” to the water levels. The reservoir at Poulaphouca, Co Wicklow, the largest serving Dublin, was a full 1.5 metres lower than this time last year; the other major reservoirs feeding Dublin were similarly deficient.
It has not, however, rained enough in the Wicklow mountains, where soil moisture deficits were such that it would need a lot more rain to run off into the reservoirs to make a substantial difference, the council maintained.
Fans going to the Take That concert in Croke Park, Dublin, this evening will face more of the same, with heavy showers forecast for the afternoon, although it should brighten up in the evening. There is a better chance that tomorrow will be rain-free.
The south has had a very wet spell, with torrential rain in Cork and Kerry early on Thursday. A week before, Valentia, Co Kerry, had a phenomenal 39.2mm (1½in) of rain, more than twice the norm, as did Cork airport, with 35.5mm. Malin Head has almost had its monthly average rainfall already.
