Uisce Éireann begins replacing some of Cork city's ageing water mains
Uisce Éireann said the Popham’s Road works may involve water interruptions and said its project team would ensure that customers were given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any planned disruption.
After months of reports of discoloured water, Uisce Éireann has begun replacing some of Cork city’s ageing cast iron water mains.
In a project which began this week and is due to be completed in late May, the water utility company, working with Cork City Council, is replacing over a kilometre of old cast iron piping in the Popham’s Road area.
The works come as large areas of the city’s northside, and some parts of the southside, have suffered ongoing issues with discoloured water, with some complaints dating back months and even years.
Several areas have been affected by intermittent instances of discoloured water in the drinking supply in the months since the summer of 2022, when the then Irish Water opened its new €40m Lee Road water treatment plant.
In October 2022, Irish Water told an adjustment of the chemicals it used in water preparation had caused rusty sediment to be stripped from the inside of some of the city’s cast iron water mains, resulting in discoloured water in some homes across the city.
Since 2022, the water utility company has received 95 reports from people in Cork city complaining of suffering from illnesses suspected of having been caused by water consumption, compared to just one such complaint in 2020 and two in 2021.
Over half of the city’s water mains are cast iron, with some over a century old.
At a two-hour meeting between Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council’s environment strategic policy committee last month, the company said an investment of at least €500m would be required to replace the city’s older mains.
The works will take place on Popham’s Road, including Bóthar an Choimín, St. Michaels Road, St. Colemans Road, St. Brendan’s Road, the northern side of Farranferris Avenue and a part of Fairfield Avenue. A stop-go traffic management system will be in place throughout the project.
Commenting on the project, programme manager at Uisce Éireann, Jack Cronin said the Popham’s Road area was among those prioritised for replacement.
“We are delighted to progress these upgrades for the local community, providing them with a more reliable water supply that will also reduce leakage and strengthen the water network in the city,” he said.
Uisce Éireann said the Popham’s Road works may involve water interruptions and said its project team would ensure that customers were given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any planned disruption.
Uisce Éireann said members of the public who have any questions about the project can phone the company on 1800 278 278 or visit the Uisce Éireann website, www.water.ie, for regular updates.
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