Uisce Éireann announces major upgrade to the water network in Grallagh

12 June 2023

As part of our commitment to upgrade and improve the water supply in Waterford, Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Waterford City and County Council, is progressing a significant project to upgrade and improve the water supply in Grallagh, West Waterford.

The works, which represent a significant investment by Uisce Éireann, involve the replacement of almost 2kms of aging water mains with new modern pipes. The new mains will ensure a safer, more reliable water supply for the local community as well as reducing the volume of treated water lost through running leaks. 

Beginning next week, the works will take place on a section of pipeline running along the L2025 in Grallagh Lower and on the L6090 from the junction with the N25.

Uisce Éireann’s Joe Carroll is looking forward to getting crews on site next week adding: “Securing Waterford’s water supply is a priority for Uisce Éireann and it is great to see this work commencing which will reduce the risk of outages from bursts now and into the future. Fewer bursts and less leakage mean a stronger more resilient supply for homes and businesses."

Joe added, “This section of water mains was prioritised for investment and replacement by Uisce Éireann due to its age and deteriorating condition, resulting in supply interruptions impacting the local community. When completed, the new mains will significantly reduce leakage and provide local residents with a sustainable and more reliable water supply for generations to come. I would like to thank the local community in advance for their patience and cooperation during the works. We know based on previous experiences that the short-term inconvenience will be overshadowed by the long-term benefits.”

The works will be carried out on behalf of Uisce Éireann by Shareridge Civil Engineering and are expected to be completed by the end of August. Areas of work will be limited to short sections to minimise impact on customers. Traffic management will be necessary to safely carry out the works. A stop/go system will be in place until early July when a road closure will be necessary to complete the remainder of the works. Details of the road closure, including diversions, will be communicated locally, however, local and emergency access will be maintained at all times.

The works may involve some short-term water interruptions and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any planned water interruptions. We understand that this type of work can be inconvenient and works crews will make every effort to minimise any disruption these necessary works cause.

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 reduced to 38%. We are on track to achieve a national leakage rate of 25% by the end of 2030. For more information, please visit our National Leakage Reduction Programme page.

The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Supply and Service Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website.