Uisce Éireann to begin major upgrade to the water supply in Louth

Uisce Éireann say securing the water supply in Louth remains a top priority for the company as the campaign continues to drive down leakage and improve the water supply to homes and businesses.

This project is being delivered as part of Uisce Éireann’s national Leakage Reduction Programme which they say continues to deliver significant benefits to communities across Ireland, including improved water quality, a sustainable water supply for customers, and considerable water savings.

Almost 5km of ageing water pipes will be replaced in a significant investment by Uisce Éireann. The project will ensure taps keep flowing for thousands of customers in North East Drogheda and Termonfeckin into the future.

Works are due to start on Monday 18 September and will take place on the R166 from Turmonfeckin to Beaulieu in Drogheda.

Highlighting the importance of these upgrades, Matt Thomson, Infrastructure Delivery Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann said:

“We are delighted to announce this major investment for the people of North Drogheda and Termonfeckin. Replacing these old and damaged water mains is a first step in tackling low water pressure, bursts, and leakage issues which have been affecting homes and businesses.”

Matt added: “On behalf of Uisce Éireann, I would like to thank the local community in advance for their patience and cooperation as traffic management will be necessary. However, based on previous experiences, we know that the short-term inconvenience will be overshadowed by the long-term benefits.”

To facilitate the safe delivery of the works, a stop / go traffic management system will be in place and areas of work will be limited to short sections to minimise the impact on commuters as much as possible.

The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customers’ water supply.

The works will be carried out on behalf of Uisce Éireann by GMC Utilities Group and are expected to be completed by the end of January 2024.

This project forms part of Uisce Eireann’s National Leakage Reduction Programme which they say will help them achieve their 2030 goal of a national leakage rate of 25%. They say 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. 

They further say they 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 on the national Leakage Reduction Programme, please visit https://www.water.ie/reducingleaks