Phased plan to strengthen water supply for Clonard customers

Uisce Éireann is progressing a range of short, medium and long-term measures to improve water supply resilience for customers in Clonard served by the Abbeyfields Water Treatment Plant.

The phased approach will help address current supply challenges, improve operational resilience and support the long-term development of a more sustainable water supply for the area.

Short-term measures to improve resilience

As an immediate priority, Uisce Éireann is advancing resilience measures at the Abbeyfields Water Treatment Plant to help reduce the risk of supply interruptions for customers.

Plans are progressing to install additional water storage infrastructure at the existing treatment plant. on-site. This will increase resilience and provide a buffer to water supply during periods of peak demand or operational challenges, helping to reduce the likelihood of outages on the public water network.

Once installed, the additional storage tanks can be commissioned and brought into operation within a matter of days. These works are progressing as a priority and expected to be completed within months but are subject to supply chain constraints.

Medium-term solution under assessment

To further strengthen supply while longer-term infrastructure is developed, Uisce Éireann is assessing the delivery of a containerised treatment solution on site, in advance of construction of a new treatment plant.

The emergency/interim solution would require several enabling works, including securing land access; the provision of power supply or generators; the installation of pipework connecting the trial well to the public water network; and the completion of treatment plant installation and commissioning.

Long-term investment planned

The long-term solution for Clonard remains the construction of a new permanent water treatment plant at the location of the trial well, followed by the decommissioning of the existing Abbeyfields Water Treatment Plant.  

The development of a new deeper borehole source, and the delivery of a new treatment plant involves a multi-stage process, including design development, land purchases, planning, procurement, construction and commissioning. As a result, the permanent solution will take a number of years to deliver.

Once the concept design phase is complete and the project scope has been confirmed, Uisce Éireann will provide further information on the delivery of the permanent solution.

Uisce Éireann remains committed to improving the resilience and reliability of water supplies for customers in Clonard. The utility will continue to progress immediate mitigation measures while advancing both interim and permanent solutions that will support a secure and sustainable water supply for the community into the future.