What to do if your water supply is reduced or restricted during the hot weather: Water and Public Health

What to do if your water supply is reduced or restricted during the hot weather: Public Health Advice

Stay hydrated

Make sure you have enough water to drink. It is important to stay hydrated by drinking water regularly throughout the day and increasing intake during hot weather.
Fill jugs or containers of water during the day or when the water from your drinking water tap is flowing well. Cover and leave in the fridge.
If you are concerned that you will not have enough to drink, buy bottled water.
Try to avoid tea or coffee because they contain caffeine which can add to dehydration.
Avoid alcoholic drinks which also cause dehydration.
Older adults, infants and young children, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions may be at greater risk of dehydration during periods of hot weather.
Signs of dehydration may include thirst, dark urine, dizziness, headache, fatigue and less urine output.

Keep your baby hydrated

It is very important to keep babies hydrated.
For babies under 6 months, continue to provide breast milk or infant formula as the main source of fluids.
Breastfed babies may wish to feed more frequently during hot weather – make sure to drink plenty of fluids yourself if you are breastfeeding.
For babies over 6 months, offer small amounts of water alongside their usual milk feeds and meals
Bottled water may be used to prepare infant formula where necessary. Water labelled “Natural Mineral Water” is generally not suitable for infant formula preparation because of its mineral content, however, it can be used in an emergency.
If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled (rolling boil for 1 minute) once. Cool it (out of reach of children) in the normal way. Do not re-boil.
Ready-to-use infant formula that does not need added water can also be used.

Keep cool

Maintain hygiene

It is important to maintain good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water before cooking food, eating, after using the toilet and after changing nappies.
If you do not have enough running water to wash your hands at other times, use an alcohol-based hand gel.
Alcohol-based hand gels can be used in all instances if there is no water available to wash your hands.

Make sure your water is safe to drink:

If Uisce Éireann or the Local Authority delivers water by tank into your area, you will be advised to boil it before using.
If it is necessary to boil the water from your drinking water tap in your kitchen, you will be told to do this by Uisce Éireann or the Local Authority.
If a boil water notice is put on your water supply it means that you should boil your water before using for drinking, brushing teeth, and preparing food and ice.
If you use an alternative water source, such as an old well or a neighbour’s well, you should be sure that it is safe to drink. If in any doubt, boil it before using.
Do not drink untreated water from a lake, river, spring or unsupervised well (like a holy well).

Conserve water:

Save water that is not suitable for drinking for other uses such as washing clothes, pouring into the toilet to flush or watering plants.
Do not wash cars or water lawns until the supply is fully restored.

Updated 29 June 2026