With the next few days promising warm sunshine and not a drop of rain in sight, a cautious eye is being thrown over our water supply amid fears that restrictions could have to come into play if there is a prolonged drought.

All indications are currently that the remainder of August is to stay fine, hot and dry, while it is an Irish tradition that the weather is always good when the children go back to school in September.

Naturally the extended spell of hot weather puts pressure on that most precious of natural resources, water, and how we manage it over the weeks ahead will be vital.

The Head of Asset Operations with Irish Water has said that currently "modest interventions" are being taken to conserve the water supply.

Tom Cuddy said that demand for water is increasing, but the situation remains "relatively stable".

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland today (Tuesday), Mr Cuddy said: "Across Europe and the UK, as we're aware, there are significant water shortages. In Ireland, it's relatively stable at this stage.

"At 13 of our 750 water supplies we have modest interventions ongoing, but it's been a dry year so far, particularly in the south and the midlands.

"Our sources are dropping and demand is increasing.

"It's increasing in general and in particular in holiday resort type areas and agricultural areas and so, we are taking some modest interventions."

Mr Cuddy said that measures like these have "little or no impact on customers".

"For example, we are tanking water to reservoirs. We are managing the pressure on the networks. We are bringing into supply back-up sources. We are cross connecting between adjacent water supply schemes."

He added: "We're able to manage with the assets we have at the moment for where we've come to at this stage."

When asked if there is a danger that further measures will have to be introduced over the coming weeks, Mr Cuddy said: "At this stage, as I said, things are relatively stable and we have quite a number of measures in place.

"We have a significant watch list and we are monitoring all of our supplies, so we don't anticipate in the near future having to take any drastic measures.

"But of course the more people help themselves, the more they will sustain the situation that's there at the moment."

With very little rainfall, there is little by way of harvesting to be done but there are other ways people can help preserve water. Here are some small but effective tips we can utilise

- Take a (shorter) shower instead of a bath to reduce water usage.

- Drop the hose and use a rosehead watering can in the garden .

- Use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose on the car.

- Use it twice - use a basin in your sink and then use that water for watering plants.

- If it's yellow, let it mellow, reduce the flushing on toilets.

- Fix dripping taps to avoid losing excess water.

- Turn off the tap when brushing teeth.

- Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.

- Keep a jug of water cool in the fridge instead of letting taps run.

- Install a water butt to harvest rain water (yes, it works best when it rains).

- Water plants only in early morning or evening to avoid water evaporating.

- Avoid watering the lawn, it will recover when the rain does come.

We all need to play our part and continue to use water responsibly and that applies to Irish Water too. These prolonged hot spells are here to stay and those charged with looking after and preserving our water supply must do all they can to make sure ageing mains and pipework is upgraded as a matter of national urgency.

There is little point in householders doing all they can to watch their usage when millions of gallons of water are being allowed to soak into the ground through fissures and crack in decaying pipes.

Meath Chronicle is part of Celtic Media Group which includes: The Anglo Celt, Connaught Telegraph, Offaly Independent, Westmeath Examiner and Westmeath Independent| © 2021 Meath Chronicle and Celtic Media Group. All rights reserved.