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Meadowlands Water Mains Replacement

National Leakage Reduction Programme

Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Kerry County Council, has replaced ageing back yard water mains and providing new service connections for customers in the Meadowlands estate, Tralee, Co. Kerry to improve security of supply, improve water quality and reduce high levels of leakage.

In some older properties water connections, typically made of iron or lead, were installed to the rear of the property and are often referred to as backyard service connections. The pipework due to age and deteriorating condition are a significant source of leakage and reduced levels of service. Back yard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Since all properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all properties usually resulting in low pressure.

The works involved the construction of approximately 860 metres of new water mains along the public road. In addition, new service connections were installed from the new water main to each customer’s property.

It is likely that the service connections currently serving these properties from the old back yard services in Meadowlands are made from lead. All new service connections will be made with modern polyethylene (plastic) pipes to ensure a safer, more reliable supply of water to customers in the area. These works were carried out by Ward and Burke Ltd. in partnership with Kerry County Council on behalf of Uisce Éireann.

Location
Kerry
Status
Completed
Type
Leakage Reduction

What are the benefits of the works?

The benefits of the works to replace back yard services include:

  • A Reliable Water Supply – Replacing the old water mains with new water mains and service connections will reduce the instances of bursts and water outages and will ensure a reliable supply of water to customers in the area
  • Reduced Leaks – Replacement of old water mains and service connections in poor condition will eliminate existing leaks and reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground.
  • Improved Water Quality – Removing existing old cast iron and lead from the water network and replacing them with new plastic pipes will reduce the risk of contamination.
  • Improved Operation and Maintenance – These works will deliver cost savings by providing improved water network operation that will require less maintenance in the future.

Will customers be affected by the works?

A survey is required at each property within this community. The individual survey is undertaken to assess the current water connection arrangement for that property and discuss the best way to connect the new service to the customers home. Access to the customers property is required to undertake this survey.

Customers to benefit from these improvement works will be contacted directly by Ward and Burke Ltd. to provide information about the required works and to discuss a suitable time to carry out an individual survey.

The works when they commence may involve some short-term water shut offs and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours notice prior to any planned water shut offs. Where water mains are being constructed traffic management may be in place during this time. Local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times.