How can a country as wet as Ireland need hosepipe bans?

Ireland, known as one of Europe's wettest countries, faces the paradox of implementing hosepipe bans despite abundant rainfall. Experts clarify that the issue lies not with a lack of rain, but with the challenges of water storage, treatment, and distribution.

Dr. Shaun Harrigan, Assistant Professor of Hydroclimatology at Maynooth University, explains that only a fraction of Ireland's rainfall reaches household taps. Factors such as evaporation, soil absorption, and rapid runoff into rivers mean that not all rain captured is suitable for public supply. "Ireland doesn't have a rainfall problem," Dr. Harrigan stated. "We sometimes have a water storage and treated supply problem."

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Ireland doesn't have a rainfall problem. We sometimes have a water storage and treated supply problem.

Geography plays a significant role, with most rain falling in the west while the majority of the population resides in the east. This geographical disparity means that rain in western counties cannot automatically replenish water sources for eastern areas. Effective water supply relies on rain falling within specific catchment areas or being transported between regions through robust infrastructure capable of storing, treating, and delivering it.

The transformation of rain into potable water is a multi-stage process. It begins with abstraction from water sources like rivers and lakes, followed by treatment to meet drinking water standards. The treated water is then stored and distributed through the public network. Dr. Harrigan noted that Ireland heavily relies on surface water, with a smaller contribution from groundwater. "All that rain isn’t directly transferred into the water in the tap that we can drink," he said, emphasizing the complexity and cost involved in treating water to a safe standard.

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All that rain isn’t directly transferred into the water in the tap that we can drink.