Water mains replacement works on the horizon for Drumcondrath
26 October 2022
Securing the water supply in Meath remains a top priority for Uisce Éireann as the intensive campaign continues to drive down leakage across the county and improve the water supply to homes and businesses.
Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Meath County Council, is replacing old and problematic water mains in Drumcondrath to provide a more reliable water supply and reduce high levels of leakage. The works are being carried out as part of Uisce Éireann’s National Leakage Reduction Programme.
The project involves the replacement of almost 400 metres of aged, problematic water mains along the R165, from junction L3403 to junction L3404 Old Court. These old mains, which are prone to frequent bursts and leakage which is impacting customers’ supplies, will be replaced with modern, pipes, ensuring a more reliable supply of water to homes and businesses. The project will also diminish existing leaks, reducing the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground.
Highlighting the importance of these upgrades, Matt Thomson, Leakage Reduction Programme Regional Lead with Uisce Éireann, said, “We are delighted to announce this major investment for Drumcondrath. Replacing these old and damaged pipes is a first step in tackling water pressure and leakage issues which have been affecting homes and businesses. The works will not only reduce the amount of drinking water lost to leakage, but it will also deliver a much more reliable supply for generations to come.
“To minimise the impact on the local community, we are delivering these works on a phased basis with areas of work limited to short sections.
Matt added “On behalf of Uisce Éireann, I would like thank the local community in advance for their patience and cooperation as traffic management will be necessary as the project progresses, however, based on previous experiences, we know that the short-term inconvenience will be overshadowed by the long-term benefits.”
The works also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customer’s water supply. The works may involve some short-term supply interruptions which we understand may cause inconvenience, however, the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any planned water interruptions. The project, which is being delivered on behalf of Uisce Éireann by GMC Utilities Group, is due to begin in early November and expected to be completed by the end of 2022
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 our website.
Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.