Uisce Éireann Planned Critical Repair Works

Customers in Dublin and parts of Wicklow and Kildare may experience interruptions to water supply over the Bank Holiday Weekend

943 customers in Kildare will have water supply interrupted and alternative water supplies will be provided

28 July 2025 - Uisce Éireann is carrying out critical and complex repair works to a major pipeline that connects Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant and the Saggart Reservoir over the August Bank Holiday Weekend. This is a major pipeline that supplies one third of the Greater Dublin Area’s (GDA) drinking water and it will be turned off to facilitate these repairs. These planned works are necessary due to several leaks that have been identified which could lead to the pipeline failing and a prolonged outage if not addressed.

While Uisce Éireann has prepared for these critical works by ensuring all treated water reservoirs in the GDA are as full as possible, there is still a risk customers in Dublin, Wicklow and parts of Kildare may possibly experience interruptions to their water supply including low pressure, discoloured water, or water outages. Just under a thousand customers in Kill, Arthurstown, Rathmore, Athgoe and Tipperkevin will definitely see an interruption to supply over the weekend and alternative water supplies will be provided. 

We are making a major appeal to customers in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow to conserve water to help maintain everyone’s water supply during these essential repair works. 

Head of Water Operations at Uisce Éireann, Margaret Attridge, said: “This major pipeline can only be shut down for up to 28 hours before the water storage levels become too low, which could lead to widespread supply disruption. Therefore, the specialist repair crews have a very tight deadline to finish the repairs and refill the pipeline with water. We will work through the day and night this weekend to complete these essential works as quickly and safely as possible.

"We are asking for the public’s help to minimise the impact of this operation; for this weekend we are asking everyone to act together and only use water foressential needs. Please hold off on filling baths, car washing, power hosing, window washing, filling paddling pools and anything that is not vital. Reducing your water use will help maintain or extend water supply during the repairs, for yourself and, importantly, for vulnerable and high-risk users including hospitals and care homes."

Declan Healy, Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann, explained the complexity of the works. “We have extensively planned and prepared for carrying out these complex works over the last 9 months.

“Specialist teams will repair five leaks and replace a damaged section of pipeline. To do this, the water flowing through the pipe will be turned off temporarily and the pipeline will be drained.

“Draining the pipe will allow a specialist crew will go inside the pipeline to repair five active leaks using bespoke methods. Another specialist team will remove 35 metres of degraded pipeline and install a new section of pipeline.” 

The repair's progress will be monitored closely and Uisce Éireann will keep customers updated as early as possible on the location(s) and duration of any prolonged impacts including supply disruptions, should they develop.

Following this type of work, occasionally issues such as cloudy water (air bubbles) or internal airlocks may arise. For advice on how to resolve these issues, please visit www.water.ie/help/supply/after-an-outage/. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is also open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries. 

For updates and to see an interactive map of the areas impacted please visit the Water Supply Updates section of www.water.ie

Uisce Éireann acknowledges the inconvenience caused by interruptions to water supply and thanks communities for their patience and cooperation while we deliver these essential works. 

ENDS  For media queries, please contact press@water.ie 

Photo captions:

#35: Pictured at the site of the major Ballymore Eustace to Saggart Reservoir pipeline repair is Declan Healy, Programme Manager with Uisce Éireann. Picture Credit: Naoise Culhane

#40: The site of the major Ballymore Eustace to Saggart Reservoir pipeline repair works which are due to take place this weekend. Picture Credit: Naoise Culhane

General Notes 

• As per best practice, most homes and businesses will have on-site water storage to provide a backup source of water for sanitation purposes. Uisce Éireann advises customers to familiarise themselves with their storage capacity. 
• These essential works are necessary to proactively repair a section of the pipeline that is likely to burst if not fixed. A burst on this pipeline would result in unplanned and widespread water outages that could take weeks to repair and affect up to 1.7 million people. 

How do I prepare for the planned water supply disruptions?

Before and during the planned disruption to supply, Uisce Éireann advises customers in the affected area to: 

• Ensure you have enough drinking water: 
• Before the planned disruption, fill a jug of water and store it in your fridge. Don't drink the water from your hot water or bathroom taps as this is not drinking water.
• Turn off all pre-programmed appliances: All pre-programmed appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines or any other water-using devices should be switched off during the planned supply disruptions. This is particularly important overnight on Saturday August 2 and Sunday August 3 as your dishwasher or washing machine may empty your tank. 
• Make sure all taps in your property are turned off: This is important as it can avoid airlocks or flooding when the water returns.
• Use the water sparingly

Most storage tanks last up to 24 hours but emptying the tank may cause an airlock.

How do I Conserve Water?

Customers can help to avoid water outages for themselves and others by using less water. 

Water demand in the GDA has already reached unprecedented levels. These planned repair works will put increased pressure on the supply of drinking water. 

Reducing your water use will help safeguard water supply during the repairs, particularly to vulnerable and high-risk users including hospitals and care homes.

There are several key things that the public can do to help protect water supplies, including:

• Only use water for essential purposes this weekend, avoid washing the car, power hosing or other non-essential activities. 
• Avoid paddling pools.
• With the average shower using 7 litres of water per minute, by turning your five minute shower into four minutes, you could save up to 7 litres of water per day!
• Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machines are fully loaded. A modern washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water per cycle while a dishwasher uses 20 litres. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water but you will also reduce your energy bills.
• Don’t flush it all away: A third of all water used in the home is flushed down the toilet. Some larger cisterns can continue to work effectively with a smaller flush. Place a displacement device into the cistern (out of the way of moving parts) to save water.
• Check your home, business premises and unoccupied premises for leaks and get them fixed.
• Report any leaks you see in the public network to Uisce Éireann
• Don’t leave taps running and fix any dripping taps inside or outside your property.

People can find lots more useful water saving tips on our website, www.water.ie/conserve