OVER 550m of ageing and problematic backyard service water connections in Hermitage are to be replaced.
Irish Water and Clare County Council are working in partnership to provide a more reliable water supply, improve water quality and reduce the amount of treated drinking water lost to leakage.
These works will be carried out by Shareridge Civil Engineering in partnership with Clare County Council on behalf of Irish Water are due to be completed by the end of November. They are described by Irish Water as “a critical step in conserving our precious resource and reducing high levels of leakage which have been a significant source of disruption and outages for customers”.
Backyard services are found in older areas, often installed to the rear of a customer’s property and typically made of cast iron or lead. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipework, they are often a significant source of leakage and supply disruption for customers. Backyard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Where properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all connected properties, resulting in low pressure and/or outages.
Gerry O’Donnell, Regional Delivery Lead with Irish Water explained, “Old backyard service connections are a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across Ireland, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old water mains and service connections in poor condition will eliminate existing leaks and significantly reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground. We would like to thank the local residents in Hermitage for facilitating these works and working with us to provide a more secure and reliable water supply for generations to come”.
Since 2018, the National Leakage Reduction Programme represents an investment of over €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country through the delivery of the Leakage Reduction Programme. Irish Water is also investing a further €250 million annually up to the end of 2030 directed at fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply.
