Uisce Éireann to set up taskforce in Cork city dedicated to improving water quality

UISCE ÉIREANN has announced the establishment of a taskforce in Cork City, which it says will be dedicated to improving water quality.

The announcement, made this afternoon, comes ahead of a planned protest in the city tomorrow by Cork residents who say they are experiencing ongoing water quality issues.

Uisce Éireann said in a statement that “water services in Cork City are not meeting the standards that customers rightly expect”, and the utility company is assuring the public that it continues to treat the matter with the utmost urgency.

In recent months, residents have highlighted concerns over discoloured water, particularly on the northside of the city.

A spokesperson said that issues such as discolouration can occur when dealing with an aged network such as Cork City’s, where there is approximately 600km of water mains — 50% to 60% of which are made from cast iron and date back to the 1920s.

Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipes, the spokesperson said, they are prone to bursts and leakage, and sediment from these cast iron pipes can become dislodged during repair or upgrade works and can occasionally be carried through to customers’ taps, leading to the water appearing brown or orange.

1,600 calls about discoluration in 2023

Uisce Éireann regional operations manager for the South West, Brian O’Leary, said: “Protecting public health is a top priority for Uisce Éireann.

“In 2023 we received just over 1,600 calls to our customer care team regarding discolouration in Cork City — this represents just over 1% of customers.

“Recognising that some people may not be reporting incidents, we would encourage customers to contact us directly on the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278278 — each reported issue is investigated and actioned.”

Mr O’Leary added: “We continue to advise not to drink discoloured water.

“In the event of discolouration, running the tap for several minutes — we recommend up to 20 minutes — will usually restore water to a clear colour.

“The water is safe to drink once running clear.

“If the issue remains unresolved, we encourage customers to contact us directly.”

Investment 

Uisce Éireann added that it has invested more than €100m in infrastructure improvements across a number of projects in recent years including the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant.

These improvement works, including increased flood protection and a link to an additional backup supply from Iniscarra, have significantly modernised and improved the overall water supply infrastructure in the city, benefiting homes and businesses.

Remedial actions currently in place include: sampling, flushing, operational adjustments, process optimisation and water mains replacement.