In Kildare, important repair work continues to secure the drinking water supply

Critical and complex repairs began on Monday to a key water main connecting the Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant to Saggart Reservoir to ensure water supplies to 1.7 million customers in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including parts of Kildare.

Special teams shut off the water on the main line late last night. Repair and excavation crews are now working day and night to repair the pipeline.

Customers in Dublin and Wicklow may experience water supply disruptions, including low pressure, discoloured water or no water at all, on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 August 2024.

Customers in Naas and the surrounding area will continue to experience interrupted supplies and no water until around midnight. Supplies to essential services such as Naas Hospital will be maintained.

Customers in Arthurstown, Tipperkevin, Rathmore and surrounding areas affected by a water outage from 8pm last night will be without water until the early hours of the morning.

Customers in the following areas may also be affected from 7pm on 13 August until 4am on 14 August: Castlewarden, Sallins, Ardclough, Ballagh Cross, Baltracey Lane, Clane, Carbury, Rathcoffey, Hortland, Johnstown Bridge, Kill, Sherlockstown, Tirmoghan, Tuckmilltown and surrounding areas.

As the project progresses, Uisce Éireann will work to minimise the impact on customers whilst the necessary repair work is carried out. Customers can help avoid water outages for themselves and others by using less water.

Stephen Burke, Regional Operations Manager at Uisce Éireann, said the repair was extremely complex due to the nature and size of the pipeline and the volume of water it carries.

“This pipeline is large and very challenging to manage. It was built in the 1980s, is buried deep underground – between 2 and 4 metres – and has a diameter of 1.6 metres, meaning an average adult could stand inside it.

“A large area has been cleared around the leaking part of the pipe so that we can access it for the repair work. The excavation alone is 14 metres wide and 5 metres deep. The work is currently proceeding as planned and we will keep the public informed of any impact on the water supply.”

Uisce Éireann reiterates its request to the people of Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow to continue to make every effort to conserve water during the repair work.

The Uisce Éireann customer service line is also available 24 hours a day on 1800 278 278. Customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries. Please see ‘Water supply updates’ for the latest information. Section of www.water.ie or our special website https://wtr.ie/8z9lup

Customers in Kildare can access alternative water supplies at the following locations:

• Rathmore Youth Centre
• Neustadt am Rübenberge
• Walshestown
• Aras Chill Dara

Customers are reminded to use their own containers when collecting water from the tanker and to boil the water before drinking as a precaution.