Irish Water Replacing 3km Of Service Connections In Newbridge

Works beginning in Highfield Estate on 7th November

Irish Water - in partnership with Kildare County Council - is replacing "approximately 3km of ageing and problematic backyard service connections to 340 houses in Highfield Estate and Piercetown in Newbridge".

The utility company notes the safeguarding of water supply in the town "is a vital focus for Irish Water with further works planned as part of its programme to drive down leakage and reduce the number of bursts and unplanned outages impacting the community."

The replacement will provide "a more reliable water supply, improve water quality, and reduce the amount of treated drinking water lost to leakage."

The works will begin in Highfield estate on Monday, 7th November & are being carried out by Ward & Burke Construction in partnership with Kildare County Council.

Works are expected to be completed by June 2023.

The body notes "backyard services are found in older areas, often installed to the rear of a customer’s property and typically made of cast iron or lead. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipework, they are often a significant source of leakage and supply disruption for customers. Backyard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Where properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all connected properties, resulting in low pressure and/or outages."

Discussing the project Joe Carroll, Regional Delivery Lead at Irish Water, said: “Old backyard service connections are a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across Ireland, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old water mains and service connections in poor condition will eliminate existing leaks and significantly reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground. We would like to thank the local residents in Highland Estate and Piercetown for facilitating these works and working with us to provide a more secure and reliable water supply for generations to come.”