€4m investment in major watermain replacement works on Cork City South Quays

15 March 2024

Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.

Old cast iron pipes from the 1930s to be replaced supporting growth and development and enabling the local community to thrive

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Cork City Council, will soon commence a major watermain replacement project on the South Quays which will see over 4.2km of old cast iron watermains replaced with modern pipes.

The 4.2km of old watermains, dating back to the 1930s, will be decommissioned and replaced with larger, more efficient pipes which will increase the supply capacity of the network.

The €4m project is another significant investment in Cork City’s water supply. It is expected that the project will be completed by the end of Quarter 1 of 2025. Once finished, the project will provide a more reliable water supply, reduce high levels of leakage and enable growth and development.

The project is the third replacement project to be undertaken in Cork City this year as we continue to address leakage and discolouration reports in the worst impacted areas of the network, as well as support development and economic growth. Works have now been completed on Edward Walsh Road and are nearing completion on Popham’s Road. Later in the year, works will also commence at Sydney Park and Dublin Hill.

Commenting on the project, Leakage Reduction Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann, Jack Cronin said: “This is a major replacement project that is going to help Cork City thrive by supporting growth and development. Replacing old watermains in a busy city like Cork is not an easy task. Before boots are even on the ground it takes a lot of planning and liaising with our colleagues in the local authority, An Garda Síochána, local businesses and residents.”

“Once the project is completed, the local area will enjoy a more reliable water supply and a more resilient water network that will provide additional capacity to support future development in the area.”

“Our leakage reduction team has been hard at work and have reduced the amount of water lost by 50% in Cork City, that’s 17 million litres of water saved across the city every day. We remain committed to further investment in Cork to ensure the delivery of world class water services.”

“We would like to thank customers in advance for their cooperation and patience while we complete these works.’’

The works, being carried out by Ward and Burke Construction Ltd on behalf of Uisce Éireann, will take place between Anglesea Street and Sullivan’s Quay, including Union Quay, Copley Street, Cotters Street, Stable Lane, South Terrace, and George’s Quay. Works will commence next week at South Terrace and will be carried out in phases with some road closures required. Residents and businesses will be engaged with directly in advance of traffic management moving through each phase. Local and emergency traffic will always be maintained.

Following any significant activity on the water network, we usually see increased reports of sediment becoming dislodged from the old cast iron pipes, resulting in discoloured water at customers’ taps. If your tap water is discoloured, running the tap for up to 20 minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Water is safe to drink once the water is running clear. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

The works may involve some short-term water interruptions and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any planned disruption. The works also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customer’s water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead these are being replaced.

Customers can phone Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 with any questions about the project or visit our Water Supply Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website for regular updates.

Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment.