Drought and water shortages

Sir, – I hope the hosepipe ban extends to our many golf clubs. – Yours, etc,

ADRIENNE McCANN,

Blessington,

Co Wicklow.

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Sir, – The present water shortage shows up one glaring example of the misuse of water. That is the use of fresh drinkable water to flush our toilets. Perhaps it is time for Irish Water to incentivise households to install a rainwater collection system for such use, and for architects to include a rainwater collection system in all future housing designs. – Yours, etc,

TONY CORCORAN,

Rathfarnham,

Dublin 14.

Sir, – The Government’s proposal to pipe water from the Shannon to Dublin will cost about €1.3 billion and will deliver 330 litres of water per day. It will take a very long time to deliver.

A desalination plant situated near Dublin Bay would cost half that for the same capacity and could probably be built in less than a year.

Has this not been considered? The technology is there and is popular in hot countries with little water, like Ireland. – Yours, etc,

BILL KEE,

Skerries,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – The first step to compliance is to communicate a requirement in plain language. I have never used a “hosepipe” in my life. I have used a “hose”.

I am sure most Dubliners prefer a four-letter word in these circumstances too. – Yours, etc,

ULTAN Ó BROIN,

Blackrock,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – Having lost count of the conversations I have had about our current spell of very fine weather, I arrived at a momentous decision. There will be no mention of matters meteorological until it rains. – Yours, etc,

FRANK BYRNE,

Terenure,

Dublin 6W.