A nationwide hosepipe ban will be in effect from Friday, 24 July to Wednesday, 26 August 2026. Please conserve water and use it only where necessary.
We have confirmed with Uisce Éireann and NPWS that using a hosepipe for preventing or controlling the spread of a regulated invasive alien species as specified under The European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 374 of 2024) is exempt as it is considered essential purpose.
CHECK – The most important step is before you leave the waterbody.
Take a few minutes to carefully inspect your clothing and equipment. Remove everything you can see such as mud, plants, animals and other debris. Dispose of on the site and away from the waterbody. This simple step prevents invasive species from being carried to another location.
CLEAN – You don’t always need a hose to clean your equipment.
When you get home, clean your equipment before visiting another waterbody using hot water from a household tap. Using hot water from the tap is an effective way to clean equipment while respecting hosepipe restrictions. You can fill buckets, garden tubs or tub trugs with hot water. You can even use a watering can or hand-pump sprayer filled with hot water to rinse equipment.
DRY – For as long as possible
After cleaning, allow all equipment to dry for as long as possible before using it in another waterbody. Many invasive species cannot survive once equipment is thoroughly dried.