Leinster most likely to report hosepipe ban breaches

Residents of Leinster were almost twice as likely as those in the other provinces to tell on neighbours who were spotted washing cars and filling swimming pools during the hosepipe ban.

Figures from Irish Water show that when water restrictions were in place nationwide, calls came in at around treble the rate in the eastern province when compared to the three Ulster counties in the Republic.

An analysis showed complaints per 100,000 people were 7.5 in Leinster during the five-week period in which a nationwide ban was in place.

That compared to a rate of 4.6 in Munster, 3.1 in Connacht, and just 2.6 in Ulster, although complaints were probably more likely in built-up areas with houses overlooking each other.

The water utility said the final tally of complaints from the various water restrictions was 439 across the full period in which hosepipe bans were in operation.