NOTICE: Areas of Kildare to experience outages as Uisce Éireann to progress critical repair work to secure supply for the Greater Dublin Area

Uisce Éireann (UE) has started work on a critical project to repair a major water main which supplies almost one third of the drinking water for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).

The main connects the Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant and the Saggart Reservoir.

Customers in Dublin and Wicklow may experience interruptions to their water supply including low pressure, discoloured water, or no water this Tuesday, August 13 and Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

Up to 5,000 customers in Naas and surrounds will have no supply Tuesday from 9am to 5pm.

Customers in Arthurstown, Tipperkevin, Rathmore and surrounding areas will also be impacted by a water outage from 8pm on Monday, August 12, for a 24 hour period.

As the project progresses Uisce Éireann will work to minimise the impact to customers while carrying out the essential repair works. 

According to UE: "Customers can help to avoid water outages for themselves and others by using less water.

"These planned works are necessary to repair a section of the pipeline that is likely to burst if not fixed urgently."

UE added: "An unplanned burst on this pipeline would result in unplanned and widespread water outages that could take weeks to repair and affect up to 1.7 million people. 

"The GDA is heavily dependent on this large pipeline which carries 220 million litres of water each day (80 Olympic swimming pools).

"It supplies about one third of the GDA’s drinking water."

"The pipe is over 25km long and is about the same height as an average adult.

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"We identified the risk of a major burst during a pipe survey, in which we used innovative technology."

"An urgent repair is needed now to ensure we can maintain supply to the Greater Dublin Area," UE concluded.

Speaking about the critical nature of the project for securing the Dublin area’s water supply, UE's Stephen Burke said: "Uisce Éireann has identified that this section of water main is at risk of bursting and causing major disruption for customers, unless repair works are carried out.

"This is a complex and challenging project due to the size, age and location of the pipe.

"Extensive planning and preparation has taken place in advance to enable us to carry out these works and minimise impact on water supplies."

He continued: "Specialist teams will work as quickly as possible through the night and day to complete the repairs and restore normal water supply.

"However, there may be a risk of widespread supply interruptions while this work is being carried out and for a period of time afterwards.

"We are appealing to customers in the GDA to conserve water to help maintain everyone’s water supply during the critical repair works.

"The water running through this major pipeline will be turned off during this time.

"Uisce Éireann has prepared for this by ensuring all of our treated water reservoirs are as full as possible.

"However, customers can play their part, and help to avoid water outages for themselves and others, by using less water."

Mr Burke concluded: "We will keep customers updated and informed of any potential supply disruptions while we carry out these essential repair works."

UE further said: "The situation on the ground will be monitored closely.

"Uisce Éireann will inform customers as early as possible of the location and duration of any prolonged impacts. 

"As per best practice, most homes and businesses will have on-site water storage to provide a backup source of water for sanitation purposes."

The organisation added: "Uisce Éireann advises customers to familiarise themselves with their storage capacity."

UE's customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact UE on X @IWCare with any queries.

For updates, you can visit the Water Supply Updates section of www.water.ie or https://wtr.ie/8z9lup.

ALTERNATIVE SUPPLIES

Customers in Kildare can access alternative water supplies at the following locations from 10am to 5pm on Tuesday, August 13:

• Rathmore Youth Hall 
• Newtown Grove
• Walshestown 
• Áras Chill Dara 

The UE has also said that customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tanker and, as a precaution, to boil the water before drinking.