€7m in pipeline to plug city water leaks

Irish Water plans to upgrade the city’s leaky pipe network with a €7.3 million investment.

The replacement of about 20 kilometres of defective water mains pipes throughout the city forms part of the company’s water conservation plan for Galway.

It is one project of many announced by Irish Water in its new €36 million programme of work to develop new and upgrade existing water and wastewater infrastructure throughout Galway.

The central plank of the city aspect of the Galway plan includes upgrading of 20 kilometres of defective pipes.

Irish Water said “site investigation” work on the city’s pipe network will begin this coming January and construction work is expected to begin in the first three months of 2017.

The company said, “sections of water mains in the poorest condition will be replaced first,” and the entire upgrade is due to be completed in the autumn of 2018.

The remainder of the ‘new’ elements in this latest announcement by Irish Water are for projects located in the county.

Some €3 million has been set aside for the upgrade of Oughterard wastewater treatment plant, which will have a significant impact on the quality of water sources supplying city homes and businesses. The project will go to tender next month and is expected to be finished by 2017.

Irish Water said: “The upgraded wastewater treatment plant will result in a significant improvement in water quality, will allow for growth and will reduce the risk of pollution to the Owenriff River and Lough Corrib, one of the premier fishing lakes in the country and the drinking water source for much of Galway City and County.”

Other new announcements in the latest investment plan include upgrading water supply schemes in Leenane, An Cheathrú Rua, Inis Oírr, Inis Meáin, and Williamston. All five schemes are on the Environmental Protection Agency’s remedial action list. The boil water notices in place in Leenane and Williamstown will be lifted once the works are complete.

Meanwhile, Irish Water used this latest announcement to give updates on city projects that are underway and nearing completion. The replacement of water mains on Thomas Hynes Road in the city are on schedule to be completed later this month, the company said. This €420,000 project began last June and was needed “to alleviate water supply problems” that have been experienced in the area for more than a year.

The upgrade of Mutton Island wastewater treatment plant is due to be finished before Christmas. The €5.7 million works will almost double the capacity of the plant from 91,000 population equivalent to 170,000 population equivalent.

Galway West Fine Gael TD, Seán Kyne welcomed the investment and said it was made possible through the people of Galway paying water charges.

Deputy Kyne said: “Investment of this scale in our wastewater network will help end the discharge of untreated waste into rivers in Galway and off the Galway coast which will improve the environment and protect the water supply.

“The substantial investment is being made after decades of under-investment in our water and wastewater services. Undoubtedly this investment will be welcomed by public representatives who are opposed to paying for treated water and the proper and safe disposal of wastewater.

“It must, however, be recognised that this substantial and necessary investment is only possible through the combination of central Government funding and the revenue being collected by Irish Water through the payment of water charges by many citizens across Galway.”