Uisce Éireann crew docks in Cobh

28 July 2022

Within a month Cobh’s Elton Estate will be enjoying an improved water supply. 

The crew will be on site in the coming days to replace 130 metres of old watermains and the new pipes will mean fewer outages. 

Uisce Éireann and Cork County Council are prioritising leakage reduction in the areas that need it most and bursts will soon be a thing of the past in the residential area. 

Programme Manager for Uisce Éireann’s National Leakage Reduction Programme Paul Moroney is looking forward to getting to work. 

“This project in Elton Estate will not only ensure that locals are not inconvenienced by regular bursts, but it will reduce the amount of treated drinking water lost into the ground and safeguard the area’s water supply for the future.”

Ward and Burke Limited will carry out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann and are expected to be ready to ship out after three weeks. 

A traffic management system will be in place during the works, but local and emergency traffic will be facilitated at all times. 

The essential works may require some short-term water interruptions, but the project team will ensure customers are given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any unplanned interruptions. 

“We understand that this type of work can be inconvenient for local residents but work crews will make every effort to minimise any disruptions these necessary works cause,” explained Paul.  

Customers with questions about the project can call Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 or contact us on Twitter @IWCare. For further updates please see the Uisce Éireann website.

Uisce Éireann is working with local Authorities across the country to reduce leakage and provide customers with a more reliable water supply. Fixing leaks can be complicated but we are making progress. In 2018 the rate of leakage nationally was 46%, by the end of 2021 it was 38% and now we are on track to achieve a national leakage rate of 25% by the end of 2030.

Since 2018, Uisce Éireann has invested more than €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country through the delivery of the Leakage Reduction Programme. We are investing a further €250 million every year up to the end of 2030 - fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply.

For more information on the Leakage Reduction Programme please visit our National Leakage Reduction Programme page.