Uisce Éireann 'well prepared' for largest ever repair

Uisce Éireann, the national water utility, is preparing for its most extensive repair operation to date this weekend, tackling up to 15 leaks on a vital water supply line. The pipe, running from Barrymore Eustis in Co. Kildare to Saggart in Co. Dublin, is crucial, carrying over 200 million liters daily – one-third of the Greater Dublin area's supply.

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It's carrying more water than any other water main in the country.

Stephen Burke, Uisce Éireann's Senior Manager for Drinking Water in the East Region, described the main as "the most critical water main in the country." The operation, scheduled to last 27 hours, will see 300 workers enter the pipe, walking up to 300 meters in a dark, damp environment to access repair sites. This complex engineering challenge also includes replacing two large pipe sections, each roughly the size of a railway carriage.

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The works we're going to be commencing this afternoon and evening involve the 15 leak repairs, but we're also replacing two large pipe sections at two different locations and each pipe section that we're replacing is about the size of a railway carriage.

While the utility aims for minimal impact, with healthy treated water storage and a tight schedule, approximately 1,000 properties in north Kildare may face reduced supply. Burke emphasized the need for public cooperation, particularly in Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow, asking residents to conserve water as storage levels will drop significantly during the work. He urged people to use water only for essential needs and refrain from using hoses, highlighting the importance of mindful consumption during this critical maintenance period.

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It's a very dark, damp environment, 300 metres is the same as three football pitches, so it's a fairly daunting task and it's not for the faint-hearted.