Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Sligo County Council, is decommissioning approximately 2km of old watermains in Rosses Point to provide a safer and more secure water supply for customers in the area.

The ageing watermains are being replaced with new high-density polyethylene (plastic) pipes. The works will provide improved water quality while reducing the high level of leakage and bursts in the area.

The water company said the project, which will commence in early June, will improve drinking water quality, provide a more reliable water supply and reduce the amount of treated drinking water lost to leakage.

Programme Manager, for Uisce Éireann’s National Leakage Reduction Programme, Declan Cawley commented:

“Old and damaged watermains remain a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across Ireland, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old cast iron watermains will improve water quality as well as help eliminate existing leaks and significantly reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground.”

The project is being carried out by Farrans Construction on behalf of Uisce Éireann and are expected to be completed by September 2023.

The National Leakage Reduction Programme helps provide a more reliable water supply to Irish communities by reducing high levels of leakage and improving water quality.

Since 2018, its delivery has represented an investment of over €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country. Uisce Éireann is also investing a further €250 million annually up to the end of 2030 directed at fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply.