This summer is now being called the hottest summer ever, and it has been a great relief to the people of Ireland. Barbecues, beach visits and long walks in the sun have become the order of the day for thousands.

However officials have issued a warning that water supplies are seriously low after the unprecedented warm weather over the last month.

Donegal, Sligo and parts of County Dublin have all reported depleted water supplies, and the council has now imposed water restrictions asking residents to reduce their consumption by 10 percent. This week, the weather will continue to be warm by Ireland’s standards, remaining around 68 °F.

On the Aran Island of Inis Mor, off the coast of Galway, water tankers have been deployed as the residents try to cope with the shortage.

“As this trend continues, levels of lakes and ground water are now getting very low, impacting directly on water supply sources,” he added,”  said David Timlin, Clare County Council’s director.

“In the meantime, we are asking landowners and public and business consumers to use water as sparingly as possible.”

He added that rainfall in the first half of the year had been usually low.

It seems that this warm weather is set to continue for most of the summer.  If NASA and other Meteorological scientists are to be believed, this is going to be hottest summer for the last 130 years.