Major works successfully completed on critical repair in Greater Dublin Area

Following critical and complex repairs to a major trunk watermain that connects Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant and the Saggart Reservoir, water is now back flowing into the treated water reservoirs in areas of Kildare.

Specialist teams worked through Monday and Tuesday night to excavate and repair the pipeline to ensure water could be returned as quickly as possible. It will take a number of hours this morning for all customers to see water return to their taps as the water network will need to refill.

Customers may also experience low pressure, discoloured water for a period today Wednesday, 14th August 2024 as water returns. Uisce Éireann would like to thank the public for their patience and support in conserving water throughout the repair and apologise for the inconvenience experienced.

Areas impacted include 

• Arthurstown,
• Tipperkevin,
• Rathmore and surrounds,
• Naas,
• Castlewarden,
• Sallins,
• Ardclough,
• Ballagh Cross,
• Baltracey Lane,
• Clane, Carbury,
• Rathcoffey,
• Hortland,
• Johnstown Bridge,
• Kill,
• Sherlockstown,
• Tirmoghan,
• Tuckmilltown.

The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is also open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates section or our dedicated web page. 

Critical and complex repairs commenced Monday to a major trunk watermain that connects Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant and the Saggart Reservoir, to safeguard water supply to 1.7 million customers in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).  

Specialist teams turned off the water late last night on the trunk main with repair and excavation crews now working day and night to repair the pipeline. To date the works are most impacting customers in some areas of Kildare. As the works continue they may affect customers in Dublin and Wicklow in the form of low pressure, discoloured water, or water outages today and tomorrow. 
 

View detailed map of the area affected

Stephen Burke, Regional Operations Manager for Uisce Éireann said the repair is highly complex due to the nature and size of the pipeline and the quantity of water it carries. 

“This pipeline is large and very challenging to work with. It was built in the 1980s, it’s buried deep underground - between 2 and 4 metres, and it’s 1.6 metres in diameter meaning the average adult could stand in it. 

“A large area around the leaking part of the pipe has been cleared so that we can access it to carry out the repair. The excavation alone is 14 metres wide and 5 metres deep. Works are progressing as planned at this point and we will keep the public up to date on any impacts to water services.” 

Uisce Éireann is again asking the public in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow area to continue to make every effort to conserve water while the repair works are underway. 

The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is also open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates page or our dedicated web page here.

There is also a detailed interactive GIS map showing the affected areas available here.

Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.

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

View detailed map of the area affected

Customers in Dublin and Wicklow may experience interruptions to their water supply including low pressure, discoloured water, or no water this Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th August 2024. While up to 5000 customers in Naas and surrounds will have no supply Tuesday from 9am to 5pm. As the project progresses Uisce Éireann will work to minimise the impact to customers while carrying out the essential repair works. 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. 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 Dublin area 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. 

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. 

Speaking about the critical nature of the project for securing the Dublin area’s water supply, Stephen Burke, Uisce Éireann, commented: “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. 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."

Stephen added: “We are appealing to customers in the Greater Dublin Area 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." 

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

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. Uisce Éireann advises customers to familiarise themselves with their storage capacity. 

The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is also open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates page or our dedicated project page.