Cork City Discolouration Latest News

Uisce Éireann Taskforce progressing response to water discolouration issues in Cork City

Uisce Éireann’s newly established Water Quality Taskforce, dedicated to improving water quality in Cork City, is progressing plans to minimise discolouration with increased sampling set to commence along with enhanced flushing programmes and further mains replacement work. 

The taskforce’s priority is to minimise the instances of discolouration for the people of Cork City and ensure they do not exceed the typical frequency expected when operating a water network of this age. Discolouration has existed in Cork City for some time; indeed, it has been a feature of the Cork City network at low levels long before the establishment of Irish Water (now Uisce Éireann).

Increased Sampling: Regular sampling is already carried out at customers’ taps, on the network, and at the treatment plant, however, Uisce Éireann is set to further increase investigative proactive monitoring at customers’ taps. This is to ensure the water is compliant once running clear, and to assist investigations into any discolouration issues encountered.

Protecting public health is a top priority for Uisce Éireann. The treatment process used by Uisce Éireann at the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant is fully in line with water treatment standards used nationally and globally. Uisce Éireann continue to advise not to drink discoloured water. In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes - we recommend up to 20 minutes - will usually restore water to a clear colour. The water is safe to drink once running clear. If the issue remains unresolved, we encourage customers to contact us directly.

Proactive callbacks to customers who have raised concerns over discoloured water in the past are underway with approximately 30 calls a week being made. In certain instances, some of these callbacks have been in-person house calls. The aim of the call is to provide information regarding ongoing actions and to gather additional information as to the customer’s experience which will assist in any further investigations required. This is in addition to any recent reports received, where a callback is also made.

Intensified flushing works are underway in the Douglas area. This new programme expands on previous flushing in the area and involves installing additional hydrants in some locations to make the flushing area smaller and isolated from the larger network; thus, improving the sediment removal. The works are also being carried out at night-time, during off peak usage hours, to allow the network time to return to normal before the morning demand starts, again reducing the potential for discoloured water at customers’ taps. Initial reviews undertaken are showing positive signs, with Uisce Éireann set to target a new section of Douglas from today, Monday, 11th March: Rathmore Lawn, Cross Douglas Road, Douglas Road, Loreta Park, Rosebank, Ashdale Park, Ballincurrig Park, Cherry Drive, Whitehorn, Baltimore Lawn, Knockrea Park, Greenhills Court, Glencurrig, Ashdene, Alderwood and surrounding areas. 

Water mains replacement works have been completed on Edward Walsh Road and are nearing completion on Popham’s Road. A third project is soon to commence on the South Quays. In the second half of this year, works are also planned for Sydney Park and Dublin Hill.

A water network is a delicate ecosystem in its own right, and replacing watermains is not a straightforward process. It requires liaising with multiple stakeholders, planning, permissions, road closures, road reinstatements etc. Areas that are worst impacted by leakage and discolouration are prioritised. Given that approximately 50% of the water network in the city is old cast iron mains, it will take an investment of approximately half a billion euro over several investment cycles to replace the city’s network.

Process Specialists from Uisce Éireann are continuing to review the operational performance of the Lee Road Water Treatment plant, investigating additional options to further improve water services in Cork City.

Uisce Éireann provides high-quality, clean, safe drinking water to over 125,000 people in Cork City every day. In 2023 we received just over 1600 calls to our customer care team regarding discolouration in Cork City. This represents just over 1% of customers. Recognising that some people may not be reporting incidents, we would encourage customers to contact us directly on the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. This allows issues to be logged and investigated in a timely manner and provides us with accurate and real time information. Each reported issue is actioned and gives us a better understanding of any ongoing issues and allows us to prioritise the worst impacted areas.

Extensive flushing works to take place in the Douglas area

Uisce Éireann continues to work to improve water quality and supply for homes and businesses in Cork City with a further programme of flushing works set to get underway next week in the Douglas area. It is anticipated that the entire programme of works will take approximately two to three weeks. 

 Flushing involves isolating small sections of the water network to clear any sediment from the old cast iron pipes to reduce instances of discolouration. Clearing the pipes in this manner can result in sediment carrying through to customers’ taps resulting in increased instances of discoloured water in the short-term. 

The flushing works in Douglas are one of the recommendations put forward by the Cork City discolouration taskforce. This new programme expands on previous flushing in the area, part of which includes enabling works which involves installing additional hydrants in some locations prior to flushing, thus improving the sediment removal. The works will also be carried out at night-time during off peak usage hours, typically starting after 8pm. It is intended that the network will have time to return to normal before the morning demand starts, again reducing the potential for discoloured water at customers’ taps.

As Uisce Éireann progresses flushing throughout the Douglas area, which has been broken down into 12 zones, a review of the programme’s operational effectiveness will be undertaken before proceeding to the next zone.

The first round of flushing is set to commence 8 pm on Monday, 4th March. As works progress through the Douglas area, signage will be put in place. Customers are also advised to check the Supply and Services section of the Uisce Eireann website on our website.

Uisce Éireann thanks customers for their patience as we continue to work to reduce instances of discolouration across Cork City, and regrets any inconvenience caused. 

Protecting public health is a top priority for Uisce Éireann. Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s water network to ensure the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Water Operations Lead for Uisce Éireann, Sean Lynch said:

“This is the start of an extensive flushing plan for the Douglas area that will be undertaken over the next few weeks. Our goal is to minimise the instances of discolouration for the people of Cork City. Discolouration has existed in Cork City for some time and has been a feature of the Cork City network at low levels long before the establishment of Irish Water (now Uisce Éireann). We acknowledge that the frequency of discolouration reports has increased over the past 18 months, and this is not meeting the standard that customers expect. This can be attributed to a number of factors including the continued upgrading and investment in plants and pipework across the city and most recently an increase in leaks caused by bursts due to freezing weather. Given that approximately 50% of the water network in the city is old cast iron mains, it will take an investment of approximately half a billion euro over several investment cycles to replace the city’s network.”

Areas potentially impacted with this round of flushing include Half Moon Lane, Westview, Kilcolman Lawn, Palaceanne Lawn, Palaceanne Court, Hawthorn Villas, Glen View, Woodlawn, Heatherton, Greenhills Estate, Cross Douglas Road, Douglas Road and surrounding areas. Other adjoining areas in Douglas may potentially be impacted.

In the short term, Uisce Éireann continues with works to proactively and reactively flush the network in targeted areas across Cork City where reports of discolouration have been received. Areas are prioritised based on customer feedback and reports received by our customer care team.   

Uisce Éireann advises customers not to drink discoloured water. In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes, we recommend up to 20 minutes, will usually restore water to a clear colour - the water is safe to drink once running clear. For more information and advice, please visit our Discoloured Water page. 

If the issue remains unresolved, we encourage customers to contact us directly on the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.

Planned flushing works to take place in the Douglas area

Uisce Éireann continues to work to improve water quality and supply for homes and businesses in Cork City with a further programme of flushing works set to get underway tomorrow. 

To address increased reports of discolouration in the Douglas area, an intense network flushing programme will be undertaken over two days on Thursday February 29th and Friday March 1st. 

Flushing involves isolating small sections of the water network to clear any sediment from the old cast iron pipes to reduce instances of discolouration. Clearing the pipes in this manner can result in sediment carrying through to customers’ taps resulting in increased instances of discoloured water in the short-term. Areas potentially impacted with this round of flushing include Half Moon Lane, Westview, Kilcolman Lawn, Palaceanne Lawn, Palaceanne Court, Hawthorn Villas, Glen View, Woodlawn and surrounding areas.   

Uisce Éireann thanks customers for their patience as we continue to work to reduce instances of discolouration across Cork City, and regrets any inconvenience caused. 

Protecting public health is a top priority for Uisce Éireann. Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s water network to ensure the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Water Operations Lead for Uisce Éireann, Sean Lynch said: “Our goal is to minimise the instances of discolouration for the people of Cork City. Discolouration has existed in Cork City for some time and has been a feature of the Cork City network at low levels long before the establishment of Irish Water (now Uisce Éireann). We acknowledge that the frequency of discolouration reports has increased over the past 18 months, and this is not meeting the standard that customers expect. This can be attributed to a number of factors including the continued upgrading and investment in plants and pipework across the city and most recently an increase in leaks caused by bursts due to freezing weather. Given that approximately 50% of the water network in the city is old cast iron mains, it will take an investment of approximately half a billion euro over several investment cycles to replace the city’s network.”

In the short term, Uisce Éireann continues with works to proactively and reactively flush the network in targeted areas across Cork City where reports of discolouration have been received. Areas are prioritised based on customer feedback and reports received by our customer care team.   

Uisce Éireann advises customers not to drink discoloured water. In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes, we recommend up to 20 minutes, will usually restore water to a clear colour - the water is safe to drink once running clear. For more information and advice, please visit our Discoloured Water page.

If the issue remains unresolved, we encourage customers to contact us directly on the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.

Utility reiterates its call to report incidences of discolouration so that expert team can pinpoint and address issues directly with customers as they arise.

Uisce Éireann has established a taskforce in Cork City, dedicated to improving water quality. Acknowledging that water services in Cork City are not meeting the standards that customers rightly expect, Uisce Éireann is assuring the public that it continues to treat the matter with the utmost urgency, including following up with proactive callbacks to customers who have raised concerns over discoloured water.

The organisation recognises that, although the ongoing issues are having a significant impact on affected communities, it provides high-quality, clean and safe drinking water to over 125,000 people in Cork City every day, and based on 2023 reports to our call centre, it is estimated that discolouration affects just over 1% of customers. Recognising that some people may not be reporting incidents, Uisce Éireann is reiterating its call for customers to contact them directly. Each call is investigated and actioned.

Uisce Éireann has invested more than €100 million in infrastructure improvements across a number of projects in recent years including the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant. These improvement works, including increased flood protection and a link to an additional back up supply from Iniscarra, have significantly modernised and improved the overall water supply infrastructure in the city, benefiting homes and businesses. 

In general, issues such as discolouration can occur when dealing with an aged network such as Cork City’s. There are approximately 600km of watermains in Cork City, which is enough pipeline to bring you from Douglas to the Giant’s Causeway in Co Antrim. 50% to 60% of these watermains are made from cast iron and approximately 100 years old, dating back to the 1920s. It would take an investment of approximately half a billion euro over several investment cycles to replace these. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipes, they are prone to bursts and leakage. In old cast iron mains, sediment can become dislodged during repair or upgrade works and can occasionally be carried through to customers’ taps, leading to the water appearing brown or orange. 

Brian O’Leary, Uisce Éireann’s Regional Operations Manager for the South West, reassured the people of Cork City that the water is safe to drink once it is running clear.

“Protecting public health is a top priority for Uisce Éireann. The treatment process used by Uisce Éireann at the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant is fully in line with water treatment standards used nationally and globally. Water services engineers and drinking water compliance specialists continue to closely monitor the water treatment plant, reservoirs and the water network that supply the city to ensure compliance with drinking water regulations."

“We continue to advise not to drink discoloured water. In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes - we recommend up to 20 minutes - will usually restore water to a clear colour. The water is safe to drink once running clear. If the issue remains unresolved, we encourage customers to contact us directly."

“Uisce Éireann provides high-quality, clean, safe drinking water to over 125,000 people in Cork City every day. In 2023 we received just over 1600 calls to our customer care team regarding discolouration in Cork City. This represents just over 1% of customers. Recognising that some people may not be reporting incidents, we would encourage customers to contact us directly on the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. This allows issues to be logged and investigated in a timely manner and provides us with accurate and real time information. Each reported issue is actioned and gives us a better understanding of any ongoing issues and allows us to prioritise the worst impacted areas.”

The Uisce Éireann leakage reduction team have also been hard at work reducing the amount of water lost by 50%, amounting to a staggering 17 million litres, across the city every day. Uisce Éireann remains committed to ongoing large-scale investment and to the delivery of world class water services for the people of Cork City.

Remedial actions currently in place include:

Sampling

Testing and analysis of the water supply, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s water network to ensure the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink once it runs clear.

Flushing

Flushing involves isolating small sections of the network and clearing the watermains of any sediment from old cast iron pipes to reduce instances of discolouration.

Operational adjustments

We have carried out operational adjustments to pumping and water storage levels to reduce discolouration.

Process Optimisation

Uisce Éireann Process Specialists are continuing to review the operational performance of the New Lee Road Water Treatment plant, investigating additional options to further improve water services in Cork City.

Water mains replacement          

A water network is a delicate ecosystem in its own right, and replacing watermains is not a straightforward process. It requires liaising with multiple stakeholders, planning, permissions, road closures, road reinstatements etc. Areas that are worst impacted by leakage and discolouration are prioritised.

Uisce Éireann continues to engage extensively with customers and elected representatives, including attending Cork City Council’s Environment, Water & Amenity Strategic Policy Committee on 16th January 2024. Uisce Éireann also invited Oireachtas members from Cork City to a briefing on 24th November 2023. 

Uisce Éireann has also commenced proactive callbacks to customers who have raised concerns over discoloured water. In certain instances, some of these callbacks have been in-person house calls. The aim of the call is to provide information regarding ongoing actions and to gather additional information as to the customer’s experience. 

More information on ongoing work in Cork City, including information on how to log an issue is available on our website.

Uisce Éireann continues to work to improve water quality and supply for homes and businesses in Cork City with a further programme of flushing works set to get underway tomorrow. 

From tomorrow, Wednesday 29 November, network flushing will be undertaken for approximately two weeks and will work through Corrib Lawn, Boyne Crescent, Ballinderry Park, Annalee Grove, Gweendore Avenue, Glencree Crescent, Liffey Park, Shannon Lawn, Lagan Grove, Murmount Court, Murmount Grove, Avonmore Park, Glenamoy Lawn, Spring Vale and Old Youghal Road and surrounding areas. 

Flushing works initially result in increased discolouration locally as the water is used to remove sediment from the network at hydrants. The flushing time required for the water to run clear is dependent on the local network conditions. 

The flushing work that we have undertaken on the network is a key part of our action plan to address intermittent discolouration issues impacting a number of customers in Cork City. 

Water services engineers and drinking water compliance specialists continue to closely monitor reservoirs that supply the city and have made operational adjustments which have reduced instances of discolouration. 

We know from previous years that the changes in seasons and weather can be challenging in terms of managing water quality in Cork City. Sub-zero temperatures inevitably leads to more bursts, repairs and maintenance that will result in increased instances of discolouration in the network. 

Uisce Éireann thanks customers for their patience as we work to reduce instances of discolouration across Cork City, and regret any inconvenience caused. Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s water network to ensure the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

In general, issues such as discolouration, bursts and leakage are unfortunately commonplace when dealing with an aged network such as Cork City’s. There are approximately 600km of watermains in Cork City, 50% to 60% of which are made from cast iron and approximately 100 years old, dating back to the 1920s. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipes, they are prone to bursts and leakage. In old cast iron mains, sediment can become dislodged during repair or upgrade works and can occasionally be carried through to customers’ taps, leading to the water to appear brown or orange. 

In the short term, Uisce Éireann continues with works to proactively flush the network in targeted areas across Cork City where reports of discolouration have been received. Areas are prioritised based on customer feedback and reports received by our customer care team. This involves isolating small sections of the network and flushing them of any dislodged sediment. 

The Cork City Water Quality Working Group, with expert representatives and engineers from Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council, continue to meet regularly and monitor the situation.

Customers experiencing water quality issues are advised to contact the Uisce Éireann Customer Care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or via X (formerly Twitter) @IWCare, so the issue can be logged and investigated. Each complaint is actioned and gives us a better understanding of any ongoing issues. 

In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water. For more information and advice, please visit our Discoloured Water page. 

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. To find out more visit our website.

Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council wish to advise customers in the Ardcullen and surrounding areas that reactive flushing works are being carried out on the water network this evening.

As a result of a pump failure in the area this morning, there may be an increase in discoloured water at customers taps over the next 24 hours. If this occurs, running the tap for several minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

Flushing involves isolating small sections of the network and clearing the watermains of any sediment from these old cast iron pipes to reduce instances of discolouration of the water supply. 

Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across Cork City’s distribution network. This ensures the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the EPA and the HSE. 

For further information, please visit our Supply and Service section on our website. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 and customers can call us on 1800 278 278 and contact us on Twitter @IWCare. 

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. To find out more visit our website.

Recent issues most likely linked to commissioning of a new pumping setup for filling reservoirs

Uisce Éireann acknowledges the impact of ongoing discolouration issues for customers in parts of Cork City and we are prioritising works at the moment to address these. 

The water leaving the treatment plant is rigorously tested to ensure it complies with the drinking water standards, and that the water is safe to drink once running clear. The treatment process used by Uisce Éireann is fully in line with water treatment standards around the country and across the world.

There has been no recent change to the process for treating the water at the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant. The recent spike in discolouration issues is most likely linked to the commissioning of a new pumping setup for filling the reservoirs. Increased flows resulted in some sediment becoming dislodged from the pipes supplying the reservoirs, which have led to the discolouration issues in the network. To address this, adjustments have been made to the pumping rates to prevent the dislodging of any further sediment from the pipes supplying the reservoirs.

In addition, Uisce Éireann crews are carrying out planned network flushing, which involves systematically flushing section by section of the network and clearing the watermains of any sediment from old cast iron pipes. While these works are carried out customers in some areas may continue to experience intermittent discolouration. However we expect that as a result of these actions, overall incidents of discolouration should decrease.

All customer complaints are logged and we would encourage the public to continue to report any discolouration issues to Uisce Éireann so that we can identify and resolve these issues throughout the network.

Customers can visit the Uisce Éireann website, www.water.ie, for details of flushing times and locations and to look out for flushing signs in your area when flushing is ongoing. 

Brian O’Leary, Uisce Éireann’s Regional Operations Manager, said: “We acknowledge there have been an increase in discolouration complaints and apologise for any inconvenience to customers as a result. The Cork City Water Quality Working Group, with expert representatives and engineers from Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council, continues to meet regularly and monitor the situation with flushing of the network being carried out in prioritised areas of the city. Areas are prioritised based on customer feedback and reports received by our customer care team."

“Flushing was carried out for over 3 weeks in the Mayfield area in October and November. Flushing is currently ongoing in Farranree and Gurranabraher in response to customer reported issues. Once complete, flushing will continue into other areas based on the reported issues. Customers will see increased discoloration while flushing is ongoing as the sediment is be cleared from the pipework. We would ask that customers get in touch with us at 1800 278 278 to report discolouration issue so that we can investigation and address them.” 

To improve water supply in Cork City, Uisce Éireann has invested in excess of €100 million in infrastructure improvement across a number of projects including the Cork City Water Supply Scheme, which is nearing completion, the replacement of the Churchfield Reservoir roof, the upgrade of Glashaboy Water Treatment Plant, and the new Lee Road Water Treatment Plant.  

These works have significantly modernised and improved the overall water supply infrastructure in the city, ensuring a safe, secure and reliable water supply to homes and businesses. 

The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or via Twitter @IWCare. 

Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water. Please see our Discoloured Water page.

Uisce Éireann continues to work to improve water quality and supply for homes and businesses in Cork City with a further programme of flushing works set to get underway tomorrow.

From tomorrow, Wednesday 18 October, network flushing will be undertaken for approximately two weeks and will work through Old Youghal Road, Murmount, Montenotte, Merrion Court and surrounding areas. The flushing works that we have undertaken on the network is a key part of our action plan to address intermittent discolouration issues impacting a small number of customers in Cork City.

Water services engineers and drinking water compliance specialists continue to closely monitor reservoirs that supply the city and have made operational adjustments which have reduced instances of discolouration. In addition to this, we know from previous years that the changes in seasons and weather can be challenging in terms of managing water quality in Cork and can impact the raw water source requiring adjustments to the treatment process, which is a standard practice.  If network improvement works increase, or when we have weather events, sub-zero temperatures causing more bursts, we will see a slight increase in instances of discolouration again.

Uisce Éireann thanks customers for their patience as we work to reduce instances of discoloration across Cork City, and regret any inconvenience caused. Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s water network to ensure the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

In general, issues such as discolouration, bursts and leakage are unfortunately commonplace when dealing with an aged network such as Cork City’s. This is a national issue and there is no easy solution. There are approximately 600km of watermains in Cork City, 60% to 70% of which are made from cast iron and approximately 100 years old, dating back to the 1920s. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipes, they are prone to bursts and leakage. In old cast iron mains, sediment can become dislodged during repair or upgrade works and can occasionally be carried through to customers’ taps, leading to the water to appear brown or orange.

In the short term, Uisce Éireann continues with works to proactively flush the network in targeted areas across Cork City where reports of discolouration have been received. Areas are prioritised based on customer feedback and reports received by our customer care team. To date, six phases of planned network flushing have been undertaken to reduce instances of discolouration impacting customers’ water supply. This involves isolating small sections of the network and flushing them of any dislodged sediment.

In recent weeks, based on reports of discolouration, flushing has been carried at the out in the following areas: Cathedral Road, Baker Road, Churchfield Avenue, Blarney Street, Strawberry Hill, Mount Saint Joseph’s Drive, Sundays Well Avenue, Gurranabraher, Saint Anthonys Road and Boyce Street. The Cork City Water Quality Working Group, with expert representatives and engineers from Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council, continue to meet regularly and monitor the situation.

Uisce Éireann continues to invest in the water infrastructure across Cork with a number of multi-million-euro projects underway to provide a safe, secure and reliable water supply to homes and businesses.

Customers experiencing water quality issues are advised to contact the Uisce Éireann Customer Care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or via X (formerly Twitter) @IWCare, so the issue can be logged and investigated. Each complaint is actioned and gives us a better understanding of any ongoing issues.

In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water. For more information and advice, please visit our Discoloured Water page.

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. To find out more visit our website.

Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council wish to advise customers on Quaker Road, Summerhill South, Parkowen, High Street, Southern Coad, Capwell Road, Capwell Avenue and surrounding areas that scheduled maintenance works will be carried out on the water network starting this Sunday to improve water quality.

From Sunday 13 August until Wednesday 23 August approximately, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council will commence network flushing works. This involves isolating small sections of the network and clearing the watermains of any sediment from these old cast iron pipes to reduce instances of discolouration of the water supply. 

Speaking about the maintenance works, Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann, Pat Britton said: 

“The flushing works that we have undertaken on the network in recent months is a key part of our action plan to address increased but intermittent discolouration issues impacting a small number of customers in Cork City. Currently, the number of complaints in relation to this issue continues to be low. However, as Cork City’s water distribution network is very old and very large, occasionally issues such as discolouration will occur but we will continue to work hard to limit these instances for customers as much as possible.” 

There are approximately 600km of watermains across Cork city, 60% to 70% of which are made from cast iron and up to 100 years old. The aging network combined with essential upgrades and maintenance works, unplanned outages and bursts, and the commissioning of new infrastructure can cause issues such intermittent discolouration for customers.

During the works, customers may experience some temporary discolouration or their water to appear brown or orange as the sediment is flushed from the network. If this occurs, running the tap for several minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across Cork City’s distribution network. This ensures the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the EPA and the HSE. 

For further information, please visit our Supply and Service Updates section on our website. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 and customers can call us on 1800 278 278 and contact us on Twitter @IWCare.

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. To find out more visit the Uisce Éireann website.

Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council wish to advise customers on Blarney Street, Cathedral Road, The Grove, Strawberry Hill, Mount Saint Joseph’s Drive, The Rise, Sundays Well Avenue, Gurranabraher, Saint Anthony’s Road, Boyce Street and the surrounding areas that scheduled maintenance works will be taking place on the water network. 

There are approximately 600km of watermains in Cork city, 60%-70% of which are made from cast iron and up to 100 years old. This, combined with improvement works across the city, unplanned outages or bursts, and new infrastructure being brought online, is adding to issues normally associated with an ageing network, such as discolouration, for a small number of customers. 

From Monday, 19 June, for approximately two weeks until the 30 June, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council will commence flushing works which involves isolating small sections of the network and clearing the watermains of any sediment from these old cast iron pipes to reduce instances of discolouration of the water supply. 

Speaking about the maintenance works, Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann, Pat Britton said: 

“This is the fourth round of flushing that we have undertaken in recent months, as part of our action plan to address the increased intermittent discolouration issues. At the moment, discolouration complaint volumes are low, and have been for a number of months. However, when dealing with an old and vast water network like we have in Cork City, there are always going to be a small number of incidences of discolouration.” 

With the clearing of sediment as part of the flushing works there may be a temporary discolouration of the water supply in the area. In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s distribution network. This ensures the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the EPA and the HSE. 

For further information, please visit our Supply and Service Updates section on our website. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 and customers can call us on 1800 278 278 and contact us on Twitter @IWCare.

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. To find out more visit the Uisce Éireann website.

Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council wish to advise customers on the Redemption Road, Commons Road, Mary Aikenhead Place, Farranree and the surrounding areas that scheduled maintenance works will be taking place on the network to address ongoing intermittent discolouration issues.  

There are approximately 600km of watermains in Cork city, 60%-70% of which are made from cast iron and up to 100 years old. This, combined with improvement works across the city, unplanned outages or bursts, and new infrastructure being brought online, is adding to discolouration issues normally associated with an aging network for a small number of customers. 

From Monday, 8 May, for approximately 10 days, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council will commence flushing works which involves isolating small sections of the network and clearing the watermains of any sediment from these old cast iron pipes to reduce discolouration of the water supply. 

Speaking about the maintenance works, Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann, Pat Britton said: 

“This is the third round of flushing that we have undertaken in recent months, and it will allow us to further investigate and get a better understanding of the intermittent discolouration issues. At the moment discolouration complaint volumes are low. However, when dealing with an old and vast water network like we have in Cork City, there are always going to be a small number of incidences of discolouration.” 

The works being carried out may cause a temporary discolouration of the water supply in the area. In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s distribution network. This ensures the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the EPA and the HSE. 

For further information, please visit our Supply and Service Updates section on our website. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 and customers can call us on 1800 278 278 and contact us on Twitter @IWCare.

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. To find out more visit the Uisce Éireann website.

Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council wish to advise customers in the Ballinlough Road, Browningstown Park, Beechwood Park, Shrewsbury and the surrounding areas, that scheduled maintenance works will be taking place on the network to address ongoing intermittent discolouration issues.  

There are approximately 600km of watermains in Cork city, 60%-70% of which are made from cast iron and are up to 100 years old. This, combined with improvement works across the city, unplanned outages or bursts, and new infrastructure being brought online, is adding to discolouration issues normally associated with an aging network for a small number of customers. 

From Monday 3rd to Friday 14th April, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council will commence flushing works which involves isolating small sections of the network and clearing the watermains of any sediment from these old cast iron pipes to reduce discolouration of the water supply. 

Work will initially commence from Ballinlough Road, Beechwood Park, and Belmont Park. Other areas outside these areas may experience some discolouration. Signage will be erected in advance of areas being flushed. 

Speaking about the maintenance works, Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann, Pat Britton said: 

“This is the second round of flushing that we have undertaken in recent months, and it will allow us to further investigate and get a better understanding of the intermittent discolouration issues. At the moment discolouration complaint volumes are low. However, when dealing with an old and vast water network like we have in Cork City, there are always going to be a small number of incidences of discolouration.” 

The works being carried out may cause a temporary discolouration of the water supply in the area. In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues, in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s distribution network. This ensures the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the EPA and the HSE. 

For further information, please visit our Supply and Service section on our website. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 and customers can call us on 1800 278 278 and contact us on Twitter @IWCare.

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.

Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Cork City Council, is progressing with works to manage intermittent discolouration issues impacting the water supply in some areas of Cork City. 

There is approximately 600km of watermains in Cork City, 60%-70% of which is made from cast iron and is up to 100 years old, dating back to the 1920s. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipes, they are prone to bursts and leaks, resulting in low pressure, water outages and discolouration. Old cast iron mains also typically suffer from sediment becoming dislodged during repair or maintenance works, which can travel to customers’ taps causing the water to appear brown or orange in colour. Uisce Éireann is investing in infrastructure improvement works in the region across a number of multi-million euro projects. The scale of improvement works can also be a contributing factor in sediment becoming dislodged, leading to temporary discolouration of the water supply.

Uisce Éireann is treating this matter with the utmost priority. A safe and secure water supply for Cork City is a top priority for Uisce Éireann and we have set up a working group with representatives from across the business, in partnership with Cork City Council Water Services, to address this issue. While sampling and monitoring of the water supply has been ongoing, it will now be intensified in affected areas across the network to gain a greater understanding and further safeguard customers, ensuring water continues to be compliant with drinking water regulations and remains safe to drink. Should any instances of non-compliance be found, the results are shared with the EPA and the HSE. Flushing used to clear networks of sediment or discolouration is planned for key areas of the network and is currently underway in the Douglas area. Uisce Éireann will continue to flush areas identified as being problematic for discolouration.  

Operations Lead for Uisce Éireann Pat Britton said: “I would like to thank customers for their patience as we work hard to address the intermittent discolouration issues in Cork City. Safeguarding the water supply and protecting public health is a top priority for Uisce Éireann and we would like to reassure customers that the water supply serving the city is safe to drink. The upgrade works ongoing are the largest ever undertaken in the city and will provide a safer and more reliable water supply for generations to come.”

In the event of discolouration, usually running the tap for several minutes will restore water to a clear colour. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water. Each and every complaint is fully investigated. Customers with queries or concerns about the quality of their drinking water should contact the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or via Twitter @IWCare. A dedicated section on discolouration with helpful information and advice can be found on the Discoloured water section of our website.

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.

Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council wish to advise customers in the Douglas Road, South Douglas Road, and surrounding areas, that scheduled maintenance works will be taking place on the network to address ongoing intermittent discolouration issues. 

There are approximately 600km of watermains in Cork city, 60%-70% of which is made from cast iron and is up to 100 years old. This, combined with improvement works across the city, unplanned outages or bursts, and new infrastructure being brought online, is causing intermittent discolouration for a small number of customers. 

From Monday 13 to Friday 27 February, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council will commence flushing works which involves isolating small sections of the network and clearing the watermains of any sediment from these old cast iron pipes to reduce discolouration of the water supply. 

Work will initially commence from Westview on the South Douglas Road through to Greenhills Estate, including Half Moon Lane, Kilcolman Lawn, Palacemanne Lawn, Heatherton, Dosco Industrial Business Park and Park Avenue. Other areas outside these areas may experience some discolouration. Signage will be erected in advance of areas being flushed. Further updates will be provided as works progress. 

The works being carried out may cause a temporary discolouration of the water supply in the area. In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s distribution network. This ensures the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these ongoing tests are shared with the EPA and the HSE. 

For further information, please visit the Supply and Service Updates section of our website. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 and customers can call us on 1800 278 278 and contact us on Twitter @IWCare.

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.

Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council thank the public for their patience.

Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Cork City Council, is progressing works to manage intermittent discoloration issues impacting the water supply in some areas of Cork City. 

Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the city’s distribution network ensuring the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these tests have been shared with the EPA and the HSE. 

In Ireland, drinking water can pass through several kilometres of pipework before it reaches homes and businesses. Some of this pipework is constructed from cast iron and, depending on the area, can be up to 100 years old. Old cast iron mains typically suffer from sediment being dislodged during repair or maintenance works, causing temporary discolouration of the water or the water appearing brown before it reaches customers' taps. With the change in weather conditions recently, there has been an increase in bursts and outages which has slightly exacerbated the issue of discoloured water in Cork city. Usually running the tap for several minutes will restore the clear colour. Uisce Éireann advises customers not to drink discoloured water until it clears.

Most of the time, drinking water passes over this sediment unchanged. However, changes in flow, pressure or direction can dislodge this sediment and carry it through to your tap. This can cause your water to appear brown or orange and is more likely to occur when repair or maintenance works are being carried out on public water mains.

Operations Lead for Uisce Éireann, Niall O’Riordan said: “Safeguarding the water supply in Cork city and protecting public health is a top priority for Uisce Éireann and we would like to reassure customers that the water supply serving Cork city is safe to drink. We understand the concerns raised by some customers concerning the colour of their drinking water and acknowledge the disruption and inconvenience caused as we continue to upgrade and improve the water supply. As a precaution, we have increased testing on the water supply and are keeping the situation under close review."

“Extensive upgrade and improvement works to the water supply continue across Cork city, all of which can result in some short-term discoloration. It is not ideal, but it is a common occurrence throughout the country, particularly for us in Cork city as parts of the network are over 100 years old." 

“I would like to thank customers who have been impacted by the discolouration issues and appreciate your patience as we work hard to ensure a continued high standard of water quality in Cork city."

Customers with queries or concerns about the quality of their drinking water should contact the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or via Twitter @IWCare. A dedicated section on discoloration with helpful information and advice can be found on our website.

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.

Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Cork City Council, continues to progress works to manage intermittent discoloration issues impacting the water supply in some areas of Cork City. 

Ongoing testing and analysis of the water supply continues in conjunction with extensive monitoring across the cities distribution network ensuring the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink. The results of these test have been shared with the EPA and the HSE. 

In Ireland, drinking water can pass through several kilometres of pipework before it reaches homes and businesses. Some of this pipework is constructed from cast iron and, depending on the area, can be up to 100 years old. Old cast iron mains typically suffer from sediment being dislodged during repair or maintenance works, causing temporary discolouration of the water / the water to appear brown before it reaches customers' taps. Usually running the tap for several minutes will restore the clear colour. Uisce Éireann would advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

Most of the time, drinking water passes over this sediment unchanged. However, changes in flow, pressure or direction can dislodge this sediment and carry it through to your tap. This can cause your water to appear brown or orange and is more likely to occur when repair or maintenance works are being carried out on public water mains.

Safeguarding the water supply in Cork City and protecting public health is a top priority for Uisce Éireann and we would like to reassure customers that the water supply serving Cork City is safe to drink. We understand the concerns raised by some customers concerning the colour of their drinking water and acknowledge the disruption and inconvenience caused as we continue to upgrade and improve the water supply. As a precaution, we have increased testing on the water supply and are keeping the situation under close review.

Extensive upgrade and improvement works to the water supply continue across Cork City, all of which can result in some short-term discoloration. It is not ideal, but it is a common occurrence throughout the country, particularly for us in Cork City as parts of the network are over 100 years old.  

We would like to thank customers who have been impacted by the discolouration issues and appreciate your patience as we work hard to ensure a continued high standard of water quality in Cork City.

Customers with queries or concerns about the quality of their drinking water should contact the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or via Twitter @IWCare. A dedicated section on discoloration with helpful information and advice can be found on our website.

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.

Uisce Éireann are making progress regarding intermittent discolouration of water in parts of Cork city. Uisce Éireann have carried out extensive testing and sampling of water supplies throughout Cork city.  The results of this testing have been shared with the EPA and the HSE and we can confirm that the water is safe to drink. Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council continuously test and sample water supplies across the city.

A programme of network flushing has been underway for a number of weeks to address any remaining localised discolouration issues. Whenever the mains are flushed there is a visible colour in the water for a period of time post flushing. As advised, customer should not drink discoloured water. Any customers who have queries or concerns in relation to discolouration should contact Uisce Éireann directly at 1800 278 278. All reports will be followed up and investigated.

If water from your kitchen tap looks orange or brown, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council recommend running the kitchen tap for a few minutes to see if the water returns to a clear colour. If the water does not run clear, contact Uisce Éireann Customer Care Team 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and it will be investigated. Do not drink discoloured water.

Uisce Éireann are actively making interventions to resolve issues as they arise and would encourage customers to continue to report issues with drinking water. Uisce Éireann would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused as we progress with upgrades to the water supply in Cork.

Please note: Ongoing works in Cork city, such as mains replacement works and/or leakage reduction works, may also cause discolouration. The issue of discolouration is a common one and can occur across the country for a number of reasons such as old infrastructure, bursts, network improvement works etc.

Uisce Éireann is continuing to investigate intermittent customer complaints regarding some discolouration of water. We have carried out extensive testing and sampling of water supplies throughout Cork city.  The results of this testing have been shared with the EPA and the HSE and we can confirm that the water is safe to drink. Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council continuously test and sample water supplies across the city

A programme of network flushing is underway to address any remaining localised discolouration issues. Whenever the mains are flushed there is a visible colour in the water for a period of time post flushing. As advised, customer should not drink discoloured water. Any customers who have queries or concerns in relation to discolouration should contact Uisce Éireann directly at 1800 278 278. All reports will be followed up and investigated.

If water from your kitchen tap looks orange or brown, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council recommend running the kitchen tap for a few minutes to see if the water returns to a clear colour. If the water does not run clear, contact Uisce Éireann Customer Care Team 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and it will be investigated. Do not drink discoloured water.

Uisce Éireann are actively making interventions to resolve issues as they arise and would encourage customers to continue to report issues with drinking water. Uisce Éireann would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused as we progress with upgrades to the water supply in Cork.

Last month, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council became aware of an increase in reports of discoloured water in some areas of Cork City.

Investigations were carried out at the time in the affected areas to identify the source of these water issues and remedial actions were carried out. The investigations found that following a recent upgrade of infrastructure in Cork city, where a number of new treatment systems are being brought online, that water being produced was impacting on some of the older pipes in the network, thus causing sediment to come loose and cause a discolouration of the water being supplied to customers. We are actively working to adapt the process to ensure that the sediment does not break down and cause the discolouration.

The issue is being continuously monitored, however, approximately two weeks ago, there was an increase in reports of discoloration in the network. Further remedial work and alterations were carried out on Friday, 16th of September and this has already shown an improvement to the water supply. Some customers may still experience discolouration periodically but we anticipate this improvement to continue over the coming days as the changes embed in the network.

Water leaving Uisce Éireann’s treatment plants is continuously tested to ensure it meets all drinking water standards. Water is also regularly tested at customer delivery points to ensure the highest standards are met.

If water from your kitchen tap looks orange or brown, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council recommend running the kitchen tap for a few minutes to see if the water returns to a clear colour. If the water does not run clear, contact Uisce Éireann Customer Care Team 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and it will be investigated. Do not drink discoloured water.

Uisce Éireann are actively making interventions to resolve issues as they arise and would encourage customers to continue to report issues with drinking water. Uisce Éireann would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused as we progress with upgrades to the water supply in Cork.

Last month, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council became aware of an increase in reports of discoloured water in some areas of Cork City.

Investigations were carried out at the time in the affected areas to identify the source of these water issues and remedial actions were carried out.

Uisce Éireann has again been made aware of reports of ongoing issues of discoloration in the network. Further remedial work and alterations were carried out on Friday, 16th of September and this has already shown an improvement to the water supply. Some customers may still experience discolouration periodically but we anticipate that there will be improvement over the coming days as the changes embed in the network.

Water leaving Uisce Éireann’s treatment plants is continuously tested to ensure it meets all drinking water standards. Water is also regularly tested at customer delivery points to ensure the highest standards are met.

If water from your kitchen tap looks orange or brown, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council recommend running the kitchen tap for a few minutes to see if the water returns to a clear colour. If the water does not run clear, contact Uisce Éireann Customer Care Team 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and it will be investigated. Do not drink discoloured water.

Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council recently became aware of an increase in reports of discoloured water and water quality issues in some areas of Cork City.

Investigations were carried out in the affected areas to identify the source of these water issues and remedial actions were carried out, and are still being actioned. While most areas water supply has returned to normal, some areas may still be experiencing discoloured water.

Water leaving Uisce Éireann’s treatment plants is continuously tested to ensure it meets all drinking water standards. Water is also regularly tested at customer delivery points to ensure the highest standards are met.

If water from your kitchen tap looks orange or brown, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council recommend running the kitchen tap for a few minutes to see if the water returns to a clear colour. If the water does not run clear, contact Uisce Éireann Customer Care Team 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and it will be investigated. Do not drink discoloured water.

Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council are aware of an increase in reports of discoloured water and water quality issues in some areas of Cork city.

Investigations have been carried out in the affected areas to identify the source of these water issues and remedial actions are underway to resolve as soon as possible.

Water leaving Uisce Éireann’s treatment plants is continuously tested to ensure it meets all drinking water standards. Water is also regularly tested at customer delivery points to ensure the highest standards are met.

Pat Britton of Uisce Éireann said “We have had calls from customers in the South Douglas Road and Montenotte areas over the last week, and we have been trying to locate the source of the issue. We are currently carrying out remedial works in an attempt to resolve the matter."

“If water from your kitchen tap looks orange or brown, Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council recommend running the kitchen tap for a few minutes to see if the water returns to a clear colour. If the water does not run clear, contact Uisce Éireann Customer Care Team 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and it will be investigated. Do not drink discoloured water.”