Glass half full for Cork
Water leakage is down 50% on Leeside thanks to a programme designed to plug the holes of Ireland’s drippy water network.
Over 17 million litres of water is being saved every day across Cork city as part of Uisce Éireann’s National Leakage Reduction Programme.
That number, according to the company formerly known as Irish Water, is the equivalent of over four times the daily household water usage of Cobh.
The reduction in leakage is the result substantial water network upgrade works carried out by Uisce Éireann.
Today, a lot of clean drinking water is still lost through leakage as Cork city continues to rely heavily on a network that is over 100 years old.
Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipes, they are occasionally prone to bursts and leakages, resulting in low pressure, water outages and discolouration.
According to Uisce Éireann, water flows through approximately 600km of watermains across Cork city, enough pipeline to go from Douglas to the Giant’s Causeway.
Uisce Éireann says the challenge of driving down leakage is “momentous” due to the vast and complex network of pipes below the ground, but with technological advancements in recent years, along with the ability to gather watermain performance data, progress is being made.
Kevin Murphy from Uisce Éireann said: “Reducing leakage is not only about replacing old pipes or fixing bursts; it involves detailed planning, collaboration and a number of different work streams which will make the most impact on leakage levels in a given area.
“Cork city has seen millions of euro worth of investment to secure, replace, and develop water services which are the backbone of a thriving local economy.
“Any short-term inconvenience to deliver water services for Cork city is outweighed by the benefits that current and future generations will enjoy for years to come,” Mr Murphy added.
Brian McCarthy, Cork City Council Senior Resident Engineer, added: “People often underestimate the complexity of fixing leaks. These are complex projects that involve working around several underground services such as gas, telecoms, and electricity.”
Uisce Éireann said it is committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment.