Dublin City Council has urged the public, businesses and schools to conserve water.

The plea comes at a time when water levels are at a critically low level and demand is at an all-time high.

The prolonged freeze over Christmas and the early days of January caused a dramatic increase in broken water mains. The council has warned that the ground will move as the thaw sets this week, causing further damage and breakages to the water mains, resulting in increased loss of water.

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Measures to conserve water include only using water when necessary and in necessary quantities, reporting any location where water is running or rising and making sure no taps are left running.

Dublin City Council said it would also be reducing pressures throughout the system in order to conserve supplies.

All areas throughout the city are at risk of reduced pressures with the higher areas having an increased risk of loss of supply, added the council.

(NS/GK)