Water network upgrade works making real progress in Carlow

Uisce Éireann's commitment to providing communities in Carlow with a more secure and reliable water supply is continuing apace.

In Autumn last year, Uisce Éireann commenced the substantial project close to Carlow Town, which will see the replacement of 6.5km of failing water mains in one of the areas most prone to leaks and supply disruptions in the county. 

These essential works, which are progressing on schedule, have resulted in almost 3km of modern watermains already constructed along Brownshill Avenue, Bennekerry Road and Hacketstown Road in recent months. 

This hard work will continue to ensure that when complete, customers will benefit from a more secure and reliable water supply with less disruption from unplanned outages. Crucially, the works will increase the network capacity, facilitate future development, enabling Carlow Town to thrive now and into the future.

Uisce Éireann's Dave Murphy outlined the importance of the work being carried out and the benefits that will be felt by the community.

"Old and damaged water mains are a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across Ireland, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old and damaged watermains will significantly reduce the risk of leakage and increase the network capacity. Since we commenced work on the Hacketstown Road in December, nearly 1.5km of water main has been replaced and the works remain on schedule. When the project is complete, it will allow for additional social and economic growth in the area and ensure Carlow Town can continue to thrive. We would like to thank customers for their cooperation and patience while these works continue in the area."

To continue to deliver these important works safely and efficiently, the closure of the R726 (Hacketstown Road) remains in place until the end of March, however it will re-open for the St. Patrick's Day Bank Holiday weekend.

Acknowledging the support of the local community, Dave added: "We understand that the works continue to cause some disruption to businesses, commuters and local road users and our crews will make every effort to minimise the disruption and complete the project as quickly as possible. We would like to thank the communities and businesses impacted by these works for their patience and cooperation while we work to deliver these new watermains and associated lasting benefits."

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

The works are being carried out on behalf of Uisce Éireann by Ward & Burke Ltd and it is planned that the works will be completed in Autumn 2024. 

Customers can phone Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 if they have any questions about the project or check out the Water Supply Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website for regular updates.

This project is one example of how Uisce Éireann is working in partnership with Carlow County Council to reduce leaks every day. Fixing leaks can be complicated. We have over 63,000 km of water pipes underground in Ireland - enough to circle the earth one and a half times. Most leaks aren't visible, resulting in precious water being lost but we are making progress. In 2018 the rate of leakage nationally was 46%, by the end of 2022 it was 37%. We are on track to achieve a national leakage rate of 25% by the end of 2030.

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

Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment. To find out more visit our website.