Works on Cork City South Quays progressing well with next phase of works commencing at Georges Quay

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

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Cork City Council, continues to make progress on a major water main replacement project on the South Quays which will see over 4.2km of old cast iron water mains replaced with modern pipes.

The 4.2km of old water mains, dating back to the 1930s, will be decommissioned and replaced with larger, more efficient pipes which will increase the supply capacity of the network.

The €4m project is another significant investment in Cork City's water supply. It is expected that the project will be completed early next year. Once finished, the project will provide a more reliable water supply, reduce high levels of leakage and enable growth and development.

Commenting on the project, Leakage Reduction Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann, Jack Cronin said: "This is a major replacement project that is going to help Cork City thrive by supporting growth and development. Once the project is completed, the local area will enjoy a more reliable water supply and a more resilient water network that will provide additional capacity to support future development in the area. We would like to thank the local community for their patience and cooperation as works were taking place along South Terrace."

Pipelaying works at South Terrace will be completed by the end of this week, and crews will progress towards Georges Quay on Monday 20 May. In order to safely and efficiently deliver the works, an initial 2-week period of nightworks will be required at the junction of South Terrace, George's Street and Union Quay. Road closures at Kemp Street and White Street have been granted by Cork City Council to facilitate these works. Local and emergency access will be maintained at all times and the works will be carried out between 7pm and 6am.

Following this period of nightworks, works will be carried out by day at Georges Quay. Works will be largely confined to within the bus lane to minimise disruption to traffic flow. The bus stop at Georges Quay will be temporarily suspended to facilitate works, with signage in place to direct Bus Éireann customers to the bus stop at South Terrace. Standard working hours are 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.

Following any significant activity on the water network, we usually see increased reports of sediment becoming dislodged from the old cast iron pipes, resulting in discoloured water at customers' taps. If your tap water is discoloured, running the tap for up to 20 minutes will usually restore water to a clear colour. Water is safe to drink once the water is running clear. Uisce Éireann continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

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 disruption. The works also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers' property boundaries and connecting it to the customer's water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead these are being replaced.

Customers can phone Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 with any questions about the project or visit the Water Supply Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website for regular updates.

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 www.water.ie.