Knockanillaun Tower watches over works to rid community of water bursts
Work to replace old pipes, responsible for water outages on the outskirts of Ballina, will begin within days.
A 4km stretch of pipework linking the Knockanillaun Tower, a local landmark, and Ballina Reservoir, will be replaced.
Due to the age of the mains, the 4km stretch, the majority of which is located on the N59 Crossmolina Road, is susceptible to bursts, so locals will be relieved to hear the project will reduce water outages.
It will also improve connectivity between the two reservoirs resulting in a much more reliable supply for the community when work is completed next summer.
While this new stretch of pipeline won't rid Ballina of all outages, the National Leakage Reduction Programme works will significantly reduce disruptions on the Crossmolina Road area, explained Uisce Éireann's Networks Regional Lead Declan Cawley.
"We are working with Mayo County Council to target the areas that need leakage reduction works the most and the Crossmolina Road in Ballina is susceptible to frequent bursts. By replacing this stretch of pipeline we will give local homes and businesses a more reliable supply of water."
Temporary traffic lights will be in place to allow for the safe delivery of the project, but motorists can be assured that areas of work will be limited to short sections to minimise impact.
There may also be some short-term water interruptions, but the project team will ensure customers are given at least 48 hours' notice ahead of any planned outages.
These works will help reduce leakage levels in North Mayo. Crews have reduced the rate of leakage nationally from 46% in 2018 to 38% at the end of last year and they are on their way to hitting the 25% target by 2030.
Since 2018, Uisce Éireann has invested more than €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country through the delivery of the National Leakage Reduction Programme. We are investing a further €250 million every year up to the end of 2030 - fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply.
Customers with questions about the Ballina project can call Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 or contact us on Twitter @IWCare. For further updates please see the Uisce Éireann website.