Uisce Éireann announce flushing works on the northside tomorrow

Uisce Éireann is to commence flushing work on a number of areas in the northside of Cork city tomorrow.

The company’s water quality taskforce for Cork City is currently undertaking a number of measures including planned intensive flushing programmes which target the areas impacted the most by discolouration.

Operational teams from water services have completed intensive flushing in a number of areas to date and will shortly commence work in areas including Mount Farran, Assumption Road, Rathmore Road, Rathmore Park, Old Youghal Road, Richmond Hill and Audley Place.

Operational teams will commence flushing at 8pm on Thursday, 28 November. Work is carried out at night-time during off-peak usage hours, typically between 8pm and 4am, allowing the network to return to normal before the morning demand starts.

As works progress through the area, signage will be put in place, with customers also advised to check the supply and services section of the Uisce Éireann website on www.water.ie. Operational teams will monitor overall weather reports weather and planned flushing activity will be postponed during icy conditions.

Water Operations Lead for Uisce Éireann, Sean Lynch said: “We are continuing with our planned programme of flushing for the Northside of Cork City, subject to icy weather limitations.

“Our goal is to minimise the instances of discolouration for the people of Cork City in areas across Cork City, based on where reports of discolouration have been received. We are asking customers in the next planned area to watch out for the signage put in place in advance of flushing.” 

A spokesperson for the company said: “Uisce Éireann is seeing a positive trend in areas that have been flushed, based on discolouration report numbers and proactive callbacks to customers.” 

Intensive flushing typically takes 4-6 weeks across an area, and the programme involves isolating and flushing small sections of the water network to clear any build-up of sediment from the old cast iron pipes.

The next phase of flushing will be suspended for the Christmas holiday period and resume in the New Year.

The company added: “Isolating the flushing area from the larger network in this manner minimises disruption and improves sediment removal. Clearing the pipes can result in sediment carrying through to customers’ taps resulting in increased instances of discoloured water in the short-term.

“This is a very different operation to the reactive flushing work that takes place following localised discolouration reports. It is very much governed by weather conditions and when icy conditions are forecast, planned flushing is paused until the weather improves.” 

Planned flushing has been completed at Spring Lane, Ballyvolane Road, Park Court, Meelick Park and Kemption Park.

The spokesperson added: “Uisce Éireann thanks customers for their patience as we continue to work to reduce instances of discolouration across Cork City, and regrets any inconvenience caused.”