Water improvement works in full flow in Cavan

13 October 2023

Securing the water supply across Cavan remains a top priority for Uisce Éireann as the intensive campaign continues to drive down leakage and improve the water supply to homes and businesses.

Crews will be arriving in Griffith Park Cootehill in the coming days to get to work replacing almost 250 metres of aged cast iron water mains with new modern pipes along with the replacement of backyard services. 

Backyard services are found in older areas, often installed to the rear of a customer’s property and typically made of cast iron or lead. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipework, they are often a significant source of leakage and supply disruption for customers. Backyard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Where properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all connected properties, resulting in low pressure and/or outages.

Uisce Éireann would like to thank all customers in the local area who have engaged with us and assisted us in the provision of our backyard services programme which will not only result in significant water savings but will also reduce the number of bursts and outages impacting customers. These projects are only successful if all customers on a shared water connection support and facilitate these vital works so that the old and leaking mains can be decommissioned. 

Speaking about the benefits of the project, Uisce Éireann’s Networks Regional Lead Declan Cawley, said: “Old backyard service connections are a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across Ireland, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old water mains and service connections in poor condition will eliminate existing leaks and significantly reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground. We would like to thank the residents in Cootehill for facilitating these works and working with us to provide a more secure and reliable water supply for generations to come.”

The works will be carried out by Farrans Construction and will be completed by the end of November. 

Areas of works will be limited to short sections to minimise impact on customers. Traffic management will be in place where water mains are being constructed but the community can be assured that local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times.  

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

“We understand that this type of work can cause inconvenience for the local community, but our crews will make every effort to minimise any disruptions,” added Declan.

This project forms part of Uisce Eireann’s National Leakage Reduction Programme and will help us achieve our 2030 goal of a national leakage rate of 25%. The National Leakage Reduction team has made great strides since 2018 when the leakage rate stood at 46%. 

Since 2018, Uisce Éireann has invested more than €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country through the delivery of the national 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 national Leakage Reduction Programme, please visit www.water.ie/reducingleaks.