Major improvement works in Dublin City to replace old leaking Victorian water mains have commenced under the Dublin Region water mains rehabilitation project, which is worth €118 million. The benefits of the project, according to Tom Leahy, executive manager with Dublin City Council, will include a reduction in leakages from pipes, improved water pressure to homes and businesses, replacement of old lead connections on public supplies (where they exist) and improved level of service and security of supply.
There will be some planned temporary water disruption while supplies are disconnected/reconnected. The project team are working closely with businesses and An Garda Siochana to manage traffic while the works are going on.
Road users may face delays as a result of work taking place in the All Hallows area around Drumcondra Road, as well as the areas surrounding Green Street, Church Street in the North City and Grand Canal Street in the South City. People are welcome to call the watermains rehabilitation project lo-call telephone line, 1890 88 24 10 (Monday – Friday 9am-5pm). Regular updates and maps on where and when work is taking place are available on the website, www.watermainsrehab.ie.
“Commuters and those visiting Dublin City or any facilities through these routes, such as hospitals or Dublin Airport, should please plan their journey and give themselves extra time if they do have to cross the works,” says Ronan O’Rourke, project engineer, Dublin City Council. “Delays to traffic will be kept to a minimum by the contractors’ traffic management staff who have a strong track record in successfully carrying out the watermains rehabilitation work over the past four years across Dublin.”
Water rehabilitation works have already been completed in Dublin City, including very busy areas like the Merrion Road, South Circular Road, Kilmainham and Pembroke Road as well as in Dun Laoghaire, Bray and other parts of the greater Dublin area without prolonged disruption to traffic.
Where householders’ water has to be shut off to facilitate the works, this will be limited to approximately 10 hours at a time and an information leaflet delivered to homes and businesses 48 hours beforehand, detailing the date and times of interruption to water supply.
The water rehabilitation project is funded by the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government and managed by Dublin City Council on behalf of the four local authorities in Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Bray.