Almost a quarter of a million litres of water are shipped to Inis Oírr every day, as the island’s water reservoir remains low and restrictions on public supply continue into summer.

Galway County Council and Uisce Éireann are implementing overnight public water supply restrictions on the smallest of the Aran Islands due to water shortages on the island.

The daily restrictions from 11pm to 7am have been in place since May and have led to difficulties for local businesses reliant on day trippers and tourism to survive.

Uisce Éireann has confirmed to the Connacht Tribune that it was shipping in tanks of water from the mainland in Galway to help boost supplies on Inis Oírr.

“Supplies are increased by a significant amount of tankering of water by sea from Ros ‘a Mhíl. Water is tankered twice a day, subject to weather conditions, and the cargo vessel carries approximately 120 cubic metres, or 120,000 litres, of water on each trip,” a spokesperson said.

The Council and Uisce Éireann has appealed to the public to conserve water on Inis Oírr, as the restrictions move into a third month.

Caption: A sign on a restaurant counter on Inis Oirr last weekend.

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