Crews continue works to improve water quality and supply for customers in Portarlington
25 November 2022
Safeguarding the water supply in Laois is a vital focus for Uisce Éireann with works planned in Portarlington as part of its programme to drive down leakage and reduce the number of bursts and unplanned outages impacting the community.
Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Laois County Council, is replacing nearly 500 meters of ageing and problematic backyard service connections in St Michael’s Park to provide a more reliable water supply, improve water quality and reduce the amount of treated drinking water lost to leakage.
The works, which are due to begin on November 28, are a critical step in conserving our precious resource and reducing high levels of leakage which have been a significant source of disruption and outages for customers.
Backyard services are found in older areas, often installed to the rear of a customer’s property and typically made of cast iron or lead. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipework, they are often a significant source of leakage and supply disruption for customers. Backyard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Where properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all connected properties, resulting in low pressure and/or outages.
Uisce Éireann would like to thank all customers in St Michael’s Park who have engaged with us and assisted us in the provision of our backyard services programme These projects are only successful if all customers on a shared water connection support and facilitate these vital works so that the old and leaking mains can be decommissioned.
Speaking about the benefits of the project, Joe Carroll, Regional Delivery Lead with Uisce Éireann, said: “Old backyard service connections are a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across Ireland, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old water mains and service connections in poor condition will eliminate existing leaks and significantly reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground. We would like to thank the local residents in St Michael’s Park for facilitating these works and working with us to provide a more secure and reliable water supply for generations to come.”
These works will be carried out by Ward & Burke Construction in partnership with Laois County Council on behalf of Uisce Éireann and are due to be completed by the end of March 2023.
The National Leakage Reduction Programme helps provide a more reliable water supply to Irish communities by reducing high levels of leakage and improving water quality. Since 2018, its delivery represents an investment of over €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country. Uisce Éireann is also investing a further €250 million annually up to the end of 2030 directed at fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply.
To find out more about Uisce Éireann’s national programme of works to reduce leakage and improve Ireland’s water supply visit our National Leakage Reduction Programme page,
Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.