O’Rahilly’s Villas and Rae Street Water Mains Replacement

Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Kerry County Council, has replaced problematic water mains in O’Rahilly’s Villas and on Rae Street, Tralee, Kerry to provide a more reliable water supply and reduce high levels of leakage.

The works involved the replacement of over 660 metres of problematic water mains with high density polyethylene (plastic) pipes. The programme to replace the water mains in O’Rahilly’s Villas commenced week of the 2 March 2020. These works were carried out as part of Uisce Éireann’s National Leakage Reduction Programme.

The works also involved laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customers’ water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead these were replaced as part of this improvement work.

The works were carried out by Kerry County Council on behalf of Uisce Éireann. The works were completed within 8 weeks*.

 

Traffic Diversions

• The initial section of works is to take place on Lower Basin View and in O’Rahilly’s Villas. For the duration of these works a diversion will be in place via Rae Street, Strand Street and Basin Road. The works area will require a road closure. These works are expected to be complete in 5 weeks.
• Following completion of the works on Lower Basin View and O’Rahilly’s Villas a new road surface is to be laid in this area. Water mains rehabilitation works are therefore to be ceased until the road surface works are complete in order to facilitate diverted traffic. When these road works are complete water mains renewal works will continue on Rae Street.
• For the duration of the works on Rae Street, a diversion will be in place via O’Rahilly’s Villas, Strand Street and Basin Road. The works area will require a road closure. These works are expected to be complete in 3 weeks.

Benefits

Improved Water Quality

• Removing existing old cast iron and lead from the public water network and replacing them with new pipes will reduce the risk of contamination.

Reduced Leaks

• Replacement of water mains and service connections will eliminate existing leaks and reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground.

Improved Operation and Maintenance

• These works will deliver cost savings by providing improved water network operation that will require less maintenance in the future.

Affects of works

• Areas of work will be limited to short sections to minimise impact on customers. Traffic management may be in place during this time. Local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times.
• The works 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.
• 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.

More information

Residents and businesses in the areas to benefit from the planned improvements have been notified directly and customers can phone Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 if they have any questions about the project.

Uisce Éireann regrets any inconvenience these necessary water network improvements may cause. Details of any supply interruptions associated to this project will be updated regularly on the Water Supply Updates section of our website.