Uisce Éireann investment means secure supply for Sligo this summer

Uisce Éireann's efforts to improve water supply across Sligo is continuing with works set to get underway on the outskirts of the county town. Water mains replacement works will commence in Carraroe and Drumiskabole Crossroads to reduce leakage, bursts and outages in the area and give businesses, residents and visitors alike an improved confidence in the security of their water supply.

Uisce Éireann crews will arrive in Carraroe and Drumiskabole Crossroads in the coming days to begin work on replacing almost 2km of old water mains which are susceptible to regular bursts and high levels of leakage. 

Uisce Éireann's Programme Manager Patricia Lowry is looking forward to getting this important project underway. 

"Uisce Éireann is working hard to prioritise the delivery of a safe and secure water supply in Sligo. The works in Carraroe to Drumiskabole Crossroads are set to drive down leakage and reduce the risk of outages from bursts now and into the future. We are committed to enabling communities across Sligo to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment." 

The essential works may involve some short-term water interruptions, but the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours' notice prior to any planned interruptions. 

The works will take place along the R284 from Carraroe National School to Drumiskabole. Traffic management in the form of traffic lights and a stop/go system will be in place to allow the works to be delivered safely and efficiently. Local and emergency traffic will be accommodated at all times. 

Patricia continued: "We understand that this type of work is inconvenient, and our crews will make every effort to minimise disruption to the local people. These works are essential to ensure Sligo's security of supply now and into the future, with the long-term benefits far outweighing any short-term inconvenience. We thank the community for their patience and co-operation."

Farrans Construction will carry out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann with a completion date of late summer 2024.

These improvement works on the outskirts of Sligo Town have been prioritised by Uisce Éireann and follow the works which are nearing completion in Grange East and Ballysadare, where almost 5km of damaged water mains will soon be replaced. 

This project forms part of Uisce Éireann's national Leakage Reduction Programme and will help us achieve our 2030 goal of a national leakage rate of 25%. The National Leakage Reduction team has made great strides since 2018 when the leakage rate stood at 46%. 

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. For more information, please visit our National Leakage Reduction Programme page.