Adrigole, Co. Cork

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

Uisce Éireann acknowledges the concerns and representations shared by the community and recognises the impact that unplanned water supply disruptions can have on households and businesses in the area. 

Below is an update on the situation and the measures being taken.

Context and contributing factors

Due to an extended period of unseasonably dry weather across Ireland over the past year —particularly in southern counties like Cork, Waterford, Wexford, and Tipperary—Water Conservation Orders (WCOs) were issued during the summer. A Water Conservation Order was in place in Cork County from 26 July to 16 September 2025. The legislation requires Uisce Éireann to demonstrate there is an urgent need for a WCO.  The introduction of this order followed a series of measures that Uisce Éireann put in place to safeguard supplies for essential purposes including increased efforts in leakage detection, pipe repair, overall network management and a water conservation public information campaign. 

In Cork County, rainfall was significantly below historical averages over the past year. This prolonged dryness, coupled with high temperatures and corresponding drought conditions collectively led to depleted surface and groundwater sources. In addition to the WCO, we tankered water from other parts of Cork to reservoirs in the county through the summer – to supplement very low source levels. 

The conditions outlined above combined with a surge in demand driven by tourism, agriculture, and domestic use during the summer months may have led to some customers experiencing temporary interruptions to water supply across these months.

Unplanned outages 

There were also a number of outages caused by bursts on the network in the county in recent months. Water pipes can burst due to a combination of factors including pressure surges, external damage, or operational factors. For unplanned outages, Uisce Éireann immediately investigate the source of the burst and work as a matter of priority to repair the water main and restore normal water supply to impacted homes and businesses as quickly and as safely as possible. Following repairs, supply is typically restored within three to four hours, though it may take longer for customers at the end of the network or on higher ground as the system recharges. Given their nature, advance notice is not possible for unforeseen/unplanned outages. However, information and estimated restoration times are posted on the website in the Supply and Service section.

Uisce Éireann wishes to acknowledge the supply issues affecting the Adrigole area in recent months due to a high number of unplanned burst water mains in the area, impacting the supply to customers. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the water main network, sometimes a repair of a burst can be followed by another burst on the line. We understand the inconvenience that is caused by supply disruptions, and we appreciate the community’s patience while we work to restore the supply when an unplanned outage does occur. 

Water mains rehabilitation

We want to assure you that addressing these issues remains a priority for Uisce Éireann. Communities in other townlands across the country have faced comparable challenges due to ageing infrastructure and weather-related pressures, and we are working through these systematically.

The frequency of bursts in Adrigole and other areas in the county is taken into consideration when prioritising water main rehabilitation projects. We are however limited in what can be rehabilitated each year, noting that projects are considered for inclusion subject to risk-based prioritisation, planning and availability of budget and resources at a national level. 

The timeframe for proposed mains rehabilitation works for the Adrigole area is currently being assessed alongside other ageing mains nationally. As the process is only in the initial stages, it is too early to confirm a timeframe at this stage. We will share further updates in this regard once available. 

In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the area and endeavour to mobilise repair crews to undertake repairs as efficiently as possible to minimise supply disruptions to the customers. 

Please note, it is recommended that all businesses maintain a contingency plan that includes a minimum of 24 hours of backup water supply to ensure continuity of operations during water outages – as per best practice.

Customer Support 

We encourage the community to report any visible leaks or bursts on the public water network to our Customer Care Team at 1800 278 278.

Supply and service information and updates are available on the website, on X @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann also has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at the text alerts page.