Following the flooding outcry, the Minister for the Environment has signed new building regulations making the installation of dual flush toilets mandatory.

John Gormley announced that following a public consultation process, he has signed into law an amendment to the national Building Regulations of the mandatory installation of dual flush toilets, both in new buildings and in existing buildings where WCs are being replaced, with effect from 1 November.

Mr Gormley explained the proposals would assist in water conservation and would save hundreds of millions of litres of drinking water each year.

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"As our economy and population increases, so does the demand for water. More water must be extracted at source and then treated to make it fit for human consumption,” said the minister.

He added: "Water conservation is, therefore, crucial to a more sustainable use of our water resources and is a practical and economic way of meeting much of the extra demand created by our growing economy."

The Minister also pointed out that more than one third of the drinking water produced is used to flush toilets.

Dual flush toilet cisterns have a mechanism that allows two modes of operation, involving a six litres and a four litres flush.

By contrast, current single flush cisterns generally use between six litres and nine litres per flush.

Following the flooding over the weekend, Fine Gael, Seymour Crawford accused Mr Gormley's department of failing to maintain miles of waterways over the last 20 years.

(DW)