Stronger pipes delivering a stronger service - Athea water main upgrade wraps up

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

Uisce Éireann crews have made their mark in Athea, laying 2.5km of brand-new water mains that will bring real benefits to everyday life. After months of works, in all kinds of weather, locals can now look forward to a more reliable water supply.

The works involved the replacement of old water mains prone to bursts along the R523 and R524 Athea and was carried out as part of Uisce Éireann’s national Leakage Reduction Programme.

Commenting on the project, Programme Manager for Uisce Éireann’s National Leakage Reduction, Brian McCarthy, said: “It is great to finish up works in Athea, and leave the community with a stronger and more sustainable infrastructure. We know these works can be impactful locally, but this short-term inconvenience gives us the ability to deliver great benefits, these new water mains will significantly lower the instances of bursts, eliminate existing leaks, improve water quality, and reduce the loss of clean drinking water.”

Following the completion of the works, it is necessary to reinstate the permanent road surface, and these works will be programmed and carried out in due course by Uisce Éireann in partnership with Limerick County Council.

The works were carried out by Ward and Burke Construction Ltd on behalf of Uisce Éireann.

This upgrade is just one example of how Uisce Éireann is tackling leakage across the country. With more than 65,000kms of underground water mains, enough to circle the earth one and a half times, finding and fixing leaks can be challenging, especially when they are hidden. But progress is being made. National leakage is now at its lowest level ever, reduced from 49% in 2014 to 36% today.

To learn more, visit our National Leakage Reduction Programme 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.