Wave of investment continues as leakage reduction works set for Easkey

17 October 2023

Easkey, one of Europe's premier surfing locations situated along the Wild Atlantic Way, is set to reap the rewards of Uisce Éireann’s national Leakage Reduction Programme as ageing water mains in the village gets the green light for replacement. The works will improve drinking water quality, put a stop to bursts, outages and leakage in the area and give locals and visitors alike an improved confidence in the security of their water supply. 

Uisce Éireann crews are scheduled to arrive in Easkey in the coming weeks to begin work on replacing approximately 387m of old cast iron water mains which are susceptible to regular bursts and high levels of leakage. 

Uisce Éireann’s Programme Manager, Patricia Lowry is looking forward to getting this important project underway. 

“Uisce Éireann is working hard to prioritise the delivery of a safe and secure water supply in Sligo. It is great to finally announce that the works in Easkey are set to commence in the coming weeks, which will improve drinking water quality and reduce the risk of outages from bursts now and into the future. Fewer bursts and less leakage will ensure a stronger water supply for homes and businesses in this area. We are committed to enabling communities such as Easkey, to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment." 

The essential works may involve 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 water supply interruptions.

Works will take place along the R297 from the Seafield Hotel to the Old Police Station and will be limited to short sections to minimise impact on customers. Traffic management in the form of traffic lights will be in place to allow the works to be delivered safely and efficiently. Locals can be assured that local and emergency traffic will be accommodated at all times.

Patricia continued: “We understand that this type of work is inconvenient, and our crews will make every effort to minimise disruption to the local community. These works are essential to ensure Easkey’s security of supply now and into the future, with the long-term benefits far outweighing any short-term inconvenience. We thank the community for their patience and co-operation.” 

Farrans Construction will carry out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann which will be completed by the end of the year.  

This project is one example of how Uisce Éireann is working in partnership with Local Authorities to reduce leakage and provide a more reliable water supply. Fixing leaks can be complicated but we are making progress. In 2018 the rate of leakage nationally was 46%, by the end of 2022 it was 37%. We are on track to achieve a national leakage rate of 25% by the end of 2030.

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 more information, please visit our National Leakage Reduction Programme page.