Major works successfully completed on critical repair in Greater Dublin Area to secure the drinking water supply to 1.7 million customers
Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.
Critical and complex repairs have been successfully completed 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 crews from Uisce Éireann and Local Authorities turned off the water to the trunk main on Monday night with repair and excavation crews working around the clock to repair the pipeline. Critical repairs were completed in the early hours of Wednesday morning and water is now refilling the network.
As the network continues to replenish, customers in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow may be impacted by low water pressure and discoloured water throughout today. It will take a number of hours today for all customers in Kildare to see water return to their taps as the water network will need to refill. The areas closest to the water main are drawing down the water first, so it will take some time to get to all areas. Those on higher ground or at the end of the network may experience disruption or an intermittent supply for a number of hours. We have prioritised keeping water to Naas Hospital at all times.
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 and surrounding areas.
Margaret Attridge, Head of Water Operations for Uisce Éireann said that forward planning has been crucial to the success of these highly complex works and minimising the impact to customers in the Greater Dublin Area.
“Safeguarding water for customers was our primary objective in planning and implementing this challenging repair. Extensive preparation took place in advance to enable us to carry out these works and minimise impact on water supplies. We would like to thank the crews who worked throughout the day and night from Uisce Éireann, Local Authorities and our contractor GMC."
“This section of water main was at risk of bursting and causing major disruption for 1.7 million customers, unless repair works were carried out.”
Uisce Éireann is again asking the public in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow area to continue to make every effort to conserve water while the network is refilling following the shut-off period. This will help all customers have a full water supply as quickly as possible.
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 Ballymore Eustace to Saggart Critical Pipeline Repair.
There is also a detailed interactive GIS map showing areas which may be affected by low water pressure and discolouration over the course of the day.
Customers in Kildare can access alternative water supplies at the following locations:
• Rathmore Youth Hall
• Newtown Grove
• Walshestown
• Aras Chill Dara
Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tanker and, as a precaution, boil the water before drinking.
View of Ballymore Eustace to Saggart critical repair in progress.
Overhead view of crews working on a BME repair collar.
View of Ballymore Eustace to Saggart critical repair completed.
Previous Updates
Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.
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) including parts of Kildare.
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.
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.
Customers in Naas and surrounds will continue to have interrupted supplies and no water until later this evening at approximately midnight. Supply to essential services such as Naas hospital will be maintained.
Customers in Arthurstown, Tipperkevin, Rathmore and surrounding areas who have been impacted by a water outage from 8pm last night will continue to be without water until the early hours of the morning.
Customers in the following areas may also be impacted from 7pm on 13 August until 4am on 14 August: Castlewarden, Sallins, Ardclough, Ballagh Cross, Baltracey Lane, Clane, Carbury, Rathcoffey, Hortland, Johnstown Bridge, Kill, Sherlockstown, Tirmoghan, Tuckmilltown and surrounding areas.
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.
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 project page Ballymore Eustace to Saggart Critical Pipeline Repair.
Customers in Kildare can access alternative water supplies at the following locations:
• Rathmore Youth Hall
• Newtown Grove
• Walshestown
• Aras Chill Dara
Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tanker and, as a precaution, boil the water before drinking.
Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.
Uisce Éireann is progressing a critical project to repair a major water main that connects the Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant and the Saggart Reservoir and which supplies about one third of the drinking water for the Greater Dublin Area.
These essential works are necessary to repair a section of the pipeline that is likely to burst if not fixed. A 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.
To facilitate these critical works, customers in Naas, including Mullacash, Ballymore Eustace, Ardenode, Brannockstown, Carnalway, Killashee, Naas East, Naas West, Naas North, Caragh, Rathasker Heights, Bishopshill and surrounding areas will be impacted by a water outage from 9am to 6pm on Tuesday 13th August.
Ballymore Eustace is Ireland’s largest Water Treatment Plant and Saggart Reservoir is a newly upgraded reservoir to store drinking water. The Greater Dublin Area including many parts of Kildare are 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.
Speaking about the critical nature of the project for securing the Dublin area’s water supply, Mark O’Duffy, 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."
Uisce Éireann acknowledges the inconvenience caused by interruptions to water supply and thanks the community in North Naas for their patience and cooperation while we deliver these essential works.”
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.
Following this type of work, occasionally issues such as cloudy water (air bubbles) or internal airlocks may arise. For advice on how to resolve these issues, please visit our outage advise page.
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 Ballymore Eustace to Saggart Critical Pipeline Repair.
Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.