Wexford Town Backyard Services

Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Wexford County Council, is replacing ageing back yard water mains and providing new service connections for customers in Wexford Town 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. These works will be carried out by GMC Utilities Group Ltd. in partnership with Wexford County Council on behalf of Uisce Éireann.

Benefits

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

Steps

• The works involve decommissioning of approximately 8 kilometres of old cast iron back yard water mains
• 7.5 kilometres of new water mains will be constructed along the public road and new service connections will be installed from the new water main to each customer’s property
• The project also involves decommissioning of further old cast iron and lead connections in nearby areas