Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has said that there may have to be cuts in water supplies.
Speaking after today's meeting of the Government's Emergency Response Committee, Mr Dempsey said water supplies are seriously depleted around the country.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley today said that water demand in the Dublin area has reached an all-time high.
He said that over the weekend demand grew to 624m litres in the Dublin area alone.
The minister said if people listen to appeals to conserve supplies, it may rule out the need to take what he called draconian measures.
Many local authorities around the country have introduced water restrictions, because of increased demand during the cold weather.
Reservoirs in parts of the country are at an extremely low level.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen has urged people to conserve water because of the cold spell.
Speaking after addressing the Citigroup Captial Markets roadshow, Mr Cowen said he had full confidence that the difficulties created by the weather were being properly dealt with by the relevant authorities.
Co Clare
Clare County Council has announced it is shutting down public water supplies throughout the county this evening in an effort to preserve supplies.
The council says demand has risen by 20%, with most of the council's water treatment plants at or near production capacity.
The public supply will be cut off until 8am tomorrow in Scarriff, Tuamgraney, Tulla, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Shannon, Cratloe, Bunratty, Kilmurry and Kilkishen.
The public supply in parts of Ennis will be cut off from until 6am tomorrow morning to try to improve supply. The supply will be restricted until 8am in the Ennistymon Liscannor, Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna and Doolin areas of north Clare.
Water was available at static standpipes in Ennis and Shannon this evening. Mobile water tankers today will be deployed again tomorrow at Newmarket-on-Fergus, at Sixmilebridge and Quin.
Co Cork
Cork City Council said it is reducing water pressure across the network to maintain supplies for normal day-time use and for emergency fire-fighting.
There is expected to be some disruption to supply in the city at night.
Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Kerry County Council are all asking people to conserve water.
Alternative arrangements for supply are being established in affected areas with stand-pipes to be provided by the council at various locations.
Co Galway
Galway County Council is requesting people to reduce water usage to an absolute minimum.
The situation will be monitored closely and some night time restrictions may be placed on supplies to conserve water and allow reservoir levels to build.
In Loughrea, householders are experiencing significant disruption due to frozen pipes in many estates. A water standpipe has been set up on Barrack Street to allow people fill containers.
Water tanks have also placed in the villages of Rosmuc and Roundstone to provide emergency supplies.
The village of Moycullen and surrounding areas are also experiencing significant water disruption.
Supplementary supplies have been taken from the Oughterard scheme to enable people to have access to some water during the day.
Co Donegal
Donegal Councy Council is appealing to people to check taps and service lines at home as demand for water becomes extremely high.
The problem is that service lines that were frozen are now thawing and drawing water through open taps or through leaks.
There have also been a number of burst mains disrupting supplies in a number of areas.
The areas affected are - parts of Falcarragh and Cloughaneely, areas in the Rosses and Gweedore, parts of Moville, Cooley, Drung and Iskaheen in east Inishowen, parts of the Frosses, areas near Lifford and also some areas served by cross-border supplies including Alt, Doneyloop, Gortnagrace, parts of the Castlefinn area and the Meenreagh/Tieveclogher area.
Co Dublin
High lying areas in the capital are experiencing a loss of water supply, as councils reduce pressure to maintain their reserves.
Two public swimming pools at Sean McDermott Street and near Tara St have been opened as washing facilities to inner city residents some of whom have been without water since last Wednesday.
Fingal County Council said there is an increased demand on the water supply from leaks, breaks, frozen pipes, and running taps. People are being urged not to leave taps running.
There are problems in Castleknock, Blanchardstown, Clonsilla, Oldtown, The Naul, Donabate, Rush, Lusk and parts of Balbriggan and the council says it may be necessary to provide water tankers.
Dublin City Council is calling on the public, businesses, schools and everybody in the community to conserve water.
There is severe disruption in Dublin South in parts of Templeogue, Rathfarnham, Walkinstown, Perrystown, Lucan, Palmerstown, Clondalkin and Tallaght.
Water disruption is also being experienced in Finglas, Cabra, Killester, Rathgar and the north inner city.
Co Limerick
Limerick City Council is supplying water at a number of locations and people can collect water in containers.
Limerick County Council is doing likewise and is providing water for collection at its offices at Dooradoyle, Annacotty, Kilmallock, Rathkeale and Newcastlewest.
Co Meath
Reservoirs in parts ofthe county are described as critically low. The council said consumption has increased to unsustainable levels in some areas.
It is appealing to consumers to make every effort to conserve water.
Co Sligo
A major burst in the south of the county was repaired yesterday but others are now being reported and teams of council staff are trying to repair them as quickly as possible. It is expected this will be an ongoing problem.
Co Wexford
Water has been turned off in the Gorey area until 8am tomorrow morning in an effort to conserve supplies, which are running dangerously low.
It was also turned off last night and could be turned off again tomorrow evening if the situation does not improve.
Water is also being turned off in Wexford town this evening, with an exact time yet to be decided. It will be off until tomorrow and the procedure may be repeated tomorrow evening.
Co Kildare
Kildare County Council has appealed to householders and businesses to conserve water, following a sharp rise in demand in the Greater Dublin region.
Up to 90% of water supplies in Kildare are produced by the Dublin local authorities.
Demand across the region is now at 628m litres per day as against 540m litres in 2009.
