Summer promises improved water supply for Inverin

24 June 2022

Chuir Uisce Éireann tús le hoibreacha chun an príomhlíonra uisce caite in Indreabhán a athsholáthar d’fhonn soláthar slán, sábháilte agus láidir uisce a chur ar fáil.

Tríd an tairbhe ó na hoibreacha sin don phobal áitiúil in Indreabhán feabhsófar iontaofacht an tsoláthair uisce agus mar thoradh air sin beidh bristeacha níos lú ann do chustaiméirí. Chomh maith leis sin, tríd an tionscadal laghdófar méid an uisce óil a chailltear don talamh. Is é atá i gceist leis an hoibreacha an príomhlíonra uisce caite a athsholáthar ó Bhóthrín na gCeartán i dtreo Bhóthar R336 ón Spidéal go dtí Indreabhán. 

Tá Gerry O’Donnell, Ceannasaí Réigiúnach an Chláir Laghdaithe Sceite le hUisce Éireann ag tnúth lena chinntiú go mbeidh bristeacha níos lú ann sa soláthar uisce do chustaiméirí ón samhradh seo ar aghaidh. 

“Trí obair a dhéanamh i gcomhpháirtíocht le Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe, thug muid tús áite do na hoibreacha laghdaithe sceite sin sna ceantair is mó gá leo. Tríd an tionscadal seo déanfar thart ar 500m de phríomhlíonra uisce caite a athsholáthar. Is é an chéad chéim maidir le hathsholáthar na bpíopaí seo chun dul i ngleic le brú uisce, le fadhbanna soláthair agus sceite a théann i bhfeidhm ar bhailte agus ar ghnólachtaí áirithe i gceantar Indreabháin. Chomh maith le méid an uisce óil a chailltear trí sceitheadh a laghdú leis na hoibreacha, feabhsófar soláthar uisce ar bhonn suntasach don phobal iomlán”.  

Dúirt Gerry: “Tá na tionscadail leanúnacha seo ina gcuid den infheistíocht shuntasach atá á déanamh ag Uisce Éireann chun an líonra uisce a uasghrádú ar fud Chathair agus Chontae na Gaillimhe agus ba mhaith linn ár mbuíochas a ghabháil le custaiméirí as ucht a gcuid comhoibrithe leanúnaigh agus a bhfoighne agus muid ag iarraidh an soláthar uisce a uasghrádú agus a fheabhsú sa chontae”.

Cuirfidh Farrans Construction na hoibreacha chun feidhme thar ceann Uisce Éireann agus cuirfear na hoibreacha i gcrích ag deireadh Mhí Iúil. Beidh bainistíocht tráchta i bhfeidhm chun na hoibreacha a éascú ach ligfear do thrácht áitiúil agus éigeandála i gcónaí. 

D’fhéadfadh roinnt bristeacha sa soláthar uisce a bheith ann le haghaidh tréimhsí gairide do chustaiméirí mar gheall ar na hoibreacha, ach cinnteoidh an fhoireann go dtabharfar fógra 48 n-uaire ar a laghad do chustaiméirí roimh bhristeacha ar bith sa soláthar uisce atá beartaithe. Déanfar sonraí faoi bhristeacha ar bith sa soláthar a bhaineann leis an tionscadal seo a chur ar fáil ar Nuashonruithe faoi Sholáthar Uisce ar láithreán Gréasáin Uisce Éireann.

Is féidir le custaiméirí glaoch ar Uisce Éireann freisin ar 1800 278 278 má tá ceisteanna ar bith acu a bhaineann leis an tionscadal. 

Tá na hoibreacha sin á gcur chun feidhme mar chuid de Chlár Laghdaithe Sceite náisiúnta Uisce Éireann. Ó 2017, d’infheistigh Uisce Éireann níos mó ná €500 milliún chun na líonraí uisce faoi thalamh a uasghrádú ar fud na tíre trí sceitheadh a dheisiú agus píopaí a athsholáthar agus déanfaidh muid €250 milliún breise á infheistiú gach bliain suas go dtí deireadh 2030.  Bíonn castacht ag baint le ligin a dheisiú uaireanta, ach tá dul chun cinn á dhéanamh againn. Sa bhliain 2018, ba é 46% an ráta sceite náisiúnta, faoi dheireadh na bliana 2021 bhí sé íslithe go dtí 38%. Táimid ag súil go n-éireoidh linn ráta sceite náisiúnta de 25% a bhaint amach faoi dheireadh na bliana 2030.

Uisce Éireann has commenced works to replace old water mains in Inverin to provide a secure, safe and robust water supply.

The benefit from these works for the local community in Inverin will improve water supply reliability and will result in fewer outages to customers. The project will also reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground. The works involve the replacement of old water mains from Bóithrín na Ceartán towards the R336 Spiddal to Inverin Road.

Gerry O’Donnell, Leakage Reduction Programme Regional Lead with Uisce Éireann, is looking forward to ensuring customers in Inverin experience fewer disruptions to their water supply from this summer on. 

“Working in partnership with Galway County Council, we have prioritised leakage reduction works to those areas which need it most. This project will see the replacement of approximately 500m of old water mains. Replacing these pipes is a first step in tackling water pressure, supply and leakage issues which affect some homes and businesses in the Inverin area. The works will not only reduce the amount of drinking water lost to leakage, it will also significantly improve water supply for the local community.”  

Gerry added: “These ongoing projects are part of a significant investment by Uisce Éireann to upgrade the water network across Galway City & County and we would like to thank customers for their continued cooperation and patience while we continue to upgrade and improve the water supply in the county.”

Farrans Construction will carry out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann and works are due to be completed by the end of July. Traffic management will be in place to facilitate the works however local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times. 

Customers may experience some short-term interruptions to the water supply, but the team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48-hour notices prior to any planned water interruptions. Details of any supply interruption associated with the project will also be provided on the Supply and Service Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website.

Customers can also phone Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 if they have any queries relating to the project. 

These works are being carried out under the national Leakage Reduction Programme. Since 2017, Uisce Éireann has invested more than €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country by fixing leaks and replacing pipes and we are investing a further €250 million each year up to the end of 2030.  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%. We are on track to achieve a national leakage rate of 25% by the end of 2030.