Ireland Hosepipe Ban 2026: Water Conservation Order
Published:
Yes. Uisce Éireann has made a Water Conservation Order, the formal term for a hosepipe ban, in force from 16 July 2026 until 26 August 2026. It covers all of Dublin and parts of Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Wexford and South Tipperary.
Uisce Éireann is the national water utility, known as Irish Water until 2023. The Order restricts the hosepipe, not the watering can, and may be lifted earlier if conditions improve or extended if necessary.
Where the Order applies
Six areas are covered. Dublin is covered county-wide; the others only in part, following the water supply network rather than the county boundary. For an exact address, use Uisce Éireann's own supply map.
| Area | Scope | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | Whole county | Water Conservation Order in force (16 July to 26 August 2026) |
| Kildare | parts of Kildare | Water Conservation Order in parts of Kildare (16 July to 26 August 2026) |
| Meath | parts of Meath | Water Conservation Order in parts of Meath (16 July to 26 August 2026) |
| Wicklow | parts of Wicklow | Water Conservation Order in parts of Wicklow (16 July to 26 August 2026) |
| Wexford | parts of Wexford | Water Conservation Order in parts of Wexford (16 July to 26 August 2026) |
| South Tipperary | South Tipperary | Water Conservation Order in South Tipperary (16 July to 26 August 2026) |
What the Order bans
The Order prohibits using a hosepipe to water a garden, wash a private car or wash a private leisure boat; filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool, except a small pool filled by hand-held containers directly from a tap; filling or maintaining a domestic pond, except a fish pond; and filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain, except for commercial use. See what you can still do and the fine structure.
Night-time water restrictions (a separate measure)
Alongside the Order, Uisce Éireann has 39 supplies under overnight restrictions, typically around 10pm to 7am, to let reservoirs recover. These affect parts of Donegal, Cavan, Longford, Meath, Galway, Laois, Tipperary, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford. This is not a hosepipe ban and carries no fine; it reduces or cuts supply overnight. See our night-time restrictions explainer.
Expansion watch
The Order can be extended in time and to other water users by way of an additional order. Met Éireann has issued Status Yellow high-temperature warnings across much of the country, including Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo, which raises the risk of the Order widening. In 2025, Uisce Éireann issued its earliest-ever order on 1 May, covering Donegal, Meath and Westmeath, and later extended it. We track changes on the updates page.
Why the Order was made
After an exceptionally warm, dry spell, Greater Dublin daily demand reached 693 million litres, around 50 million litres above the year-to-date average, and national domestic use ran about 20 per cent above typical. National leakage has fallen to 35 per cent, down from 49 per cent, but treatment plants and reservoirs are under sustained pressure. Demand figures are Uisce Éireann's; the heat warnings are Met Éireann's.
Read more
- What is a Water Conservation Order? the s.56 basis and how it differs from a UK ban.
- How long will the ban last? the fixed window, early lift and extension.
- Fines explained, the 125 euro notice and the 5,000 euro maximum.
- What you can still do, the fish-pond and hand-held-container exceptions.
- Europe water restrictions, country by country, including the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a hosepipe ban in Ireland right now?
Yes, in Dublin and parts of five other counties. Uisce Éireann has made a Water Conservation Order, its formal term for a hosepipe ban, running from 16 July 2026 until 26 August 2026. It covers all of Dublin plus parts of Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Wexford and South Tipperary. Everywhere else in Ireland is outside the Order, though 39 supplies have separate overnight restrictions.
What is banned under the Water Conservation Order?
Using a hosepipe to water a garden, wash a private car, or wash a private leisure boat; filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool (except a small pool filled by hand-held containers directly from a tap); filling or maintaining a domestic pond (fish ponds are excluded); and filling or maintaining an ornamental fountain (commercial use is excepted). A watering can or bucket is always allowed.
How is this different from a UK hosepipe ban?
It is made under a different law (the Water Services Act 2007, not the UK's Water Industry Act 1991), by one national utility rather than regional companies, and it has a fixed published end date rather than running open-ended. See our Water Conservation Order explainer for the full comparison.
What is the fine for breaching the ban in Ireland?
Breaching the Order is an offence under section 56(18) of the Water Services Act 2007. Uisce Éireann can issue a fixed payment notice of 125 euro, prosecuted if unpaid within 21 days, and a court can impose a fine of up to 5,000 euro on summary conviction. In practice prosecutions are effectively unheard of; Uisce Éireann relies on a request to desist.
How do I check if my address is affected?
For Dublin the answer is yes, the whole county is covered. For Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Wexford and South Tipperary only parts are covered, and the boundary follows Uisce Éireann's supply network rather than the county line. Use Uisce Éireann's own supply map for the exact position at your Eircode. We do not build a boundary checker, because that would mean guessing supply lines.
Status as of 15 July 2026, verified against water.ie, Uisce Éireann's own site. This is general guidance for households, not legal advice.