Uisce Éireann: 'Water restoration' efforts underway
Uisce Éireann has warned that an estimated 60,000 people have no access to water and the number of customers without water is "likely to increase further",
According to Uisce Éireann water supplies for a further 500,000 people could be at risk.
It has also said that the impacts of Storm Éowyn are being felt nationwide, with large areas without water across Tipperary, Longford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Carlow, Kilkenny, and Galway.
Met Éireann Status Red weather warnings have now expired but the majority of the country remains under either Status Orange or Status Yellow wind warnings.
According to Uisce Éireann its crews have started restoration works in areas where the Status Red warning has been lifted.
Head of water operations at Uisce Éireann, Margaret Attridge, said that there had been an "unprecedented storm event that has had a severe impact on our water and wastewater network nationwide".
She added: "Our crews will work around the clock where it is safe to do so to restore water service as quickly as possible, but given the extent of the damage, it may take some time before full service is restored everywhere."
“In areas where supply has been disrupted, most properties should have adequate storage in their attic tanks, for hygiene purposes, for at least 24 hours.
"However, customers are urged to conserve water where possible in order to protect supply while the outages are resolved," she added.
Separately the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met today (January 24) to assess the situation and coordinate the response to the storm.
The NECG is working to coordinate and mobilise all available resources to support the efforts to restore power and services to homes, farms and businesses as soon as possible, prioritising vulnerable people.
Chair of the NECG, Keith Leonard said: “It’s also important to remember that even when a red warning expires, we may continue to see potentially dangerous and damaging conditions until the storm has fully passed.
"Weather warnings will remain in place for much of the country, so please continue to take care throughout the day."
“The aftermath of this storm is also going to present its own dangers. We are going to see widespread fallen trees, fallen power lines and other hazardous debris, so I’m urging drivers to take extra care as we move into this evening and the weekend."
