Irish Water has announced it is investing €7.3 million in a conservation project to replace 19.8km of outdated pipeline in Galway City.

The project will reduce the amount of water lost through leakage and improve reliability of the water supply.

As part of the initiative, backyard water main rehabilitation works will be carried out which involves the replacement of water mains and water service connections to properties currently served by water mains located in backyards and private properties.

The proposed works will take place in Claddagh, Bohermore and Prospect Hill, Old Mervue, Court Avenue, Raleigh Row and St. Enda's Road.

In addition, works to replace the common backyard services will involve laying a new main in the public road, adjacent to the property and connecting the main to the property with a new service pipe.

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The benefits in replacing common backyard services include:

• Improved Water Pressure: Due to the high leakage on common backyard service connections a number of houses are experiencing low pressures in their water supply or in some cases, a full interruption to supply. The new proposed connection will eliminate this.

• Reduced Waste: Replacing the existing common backyard services will eliminate existing leaks dramatically reducing waste in the network.

• Improved Maintenance and Operation: The location of the existing common backyard services means that any required repairs or maintenance can be difficult due to access issues and disruption to property owners. The replacement of these services within public lands will enable access, repair or maintenance works.

• Connection Ownership: The removal and replacement of the common backyard service connections will allow individual ownership of each house connection to the relevant homeowner rather than shared responsibility for the communal service.

Property Surveys will be carried out by RPS Group with individual property owners to discuss the proposed service replacement works.

Site Investigation Works will then commence in October, with a Main Works Contractor appointed in November 2016.

(LM)