New service connections in Derrygreenagh, Co.Westmeath to safeguard water supply and reduce leakage

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Westmeath County Council, is replacing old "backyard" water mains and providing new service connections for customers in Derrygreenagh, Co. Westmeath. This will improve water quality and provide the community with a more reliable supply of water as well as reduce the high levels of leakage.

In some older properties in Derrygreenagh, water connections, typically made of iron or lead, were installed to the rear of properties and are often referred to as "backyard" service connections. The condition of these backyard services has deteriorated over the years which has resulted in increased bursts and leaks, and reduced water pressure for some customers.

About the works

The works involve the decommissioning of over 1km of old and problematic water mains which are prone to frequent bursts, and replacing them with over 850 metres of new high density, polyethylene (plastic) pipes.  The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers' property boundaries and connecting it to the customer's water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead, these will be replaced as part of the improvement works.

To facilitate the safe delivery of these works, some traffic management will be in place, however, local and emergency access will be maintained at all times. The works may involve some short-term supply disruptions which we understand may cause inconvenience. The project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours' notice prior to any planned water shut-off's. Uisce Éireann and Westmeath County Council regret any inconvenience these improvement works may cause. The works, which are scheduled to begin on Monday, 4 October, are being carried out on behalf of Uisce Éireann by GMC Utilities and are expected to be completed by November 2020.

Speaking about the project Matthew Thomson, Uisce Éireann, said "These upgrades are part of a significant investment by Uisce Éireann to upgrade the water network in Westmeath. Replacing old, damaged pipes will reduce the instances of bursts and water outages and safeguard the water supply for homes and businesses now and into the future. We would like to thank the local community, for their patience and cooperation while we deliver this vital water network improvement project."

Our customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit our Water Supply Updates section.

Leakage Reduction Programme

This project is one example of how Uisce Éireann is working in partnership with Westmeath County Council to reduce leaks every day. Fixing leaks can be complicated with over 63,000km of water pipe in Ireland. Our national Leakage Reduction Programme will see €500 million invested up to the end of 2021 to reduce the level of leakage across the country by fixing and replacing old and damaged water mains. This will ensure a safe, reliable water supply which is vital for our health, our environment and our growing population and economy. For more information, please visit the Leakage Reduction Programme page.  

Updates

Uisce Éireann is working at this time, with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services. Uisce Éireann would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.