A tenderer to carry out a construction project for Irish Water on Cape Clear Island in Cork is expected to be appointed in spring next year.

Design work on the Cape Clear Water Main Rehabilitation Project, in partnership with Cork County Council, has been completed and the project is expected to take around 18 months to complete.

The scheme will replace the island's entire watermain distribution network, a total of 11.5km.

The projectalso aims to identify the most sustainable groundwater sources on the island, which will then be developed to ensure adequate yield of drinking water for the island population throughout the year. It also involves the development of a new water treatment facility to ensure the provision of high quality clean drinking water.

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Irish Water's Regional Lead, Mark O'Duffy, said: "At the moment, Cape Clear residents and visitors to the island are dependent on groundwater wells for their drinking water, which was then leaking out through pipes that are no longer fit for purpose. The water levels in the wells can drop during a dry spell and this has contributed to outages for residents and businesses, particularly during the busy summer season. In addition to replacing the pipes, which will save 11 million litres of water per year, The Cape Clear Water Supply Scheme Project aims to identify the most sustainable groundwater sources on the island, which will then be developed to ensure adequate drinking water for the island population throughout the year. The project will also involve the construction of a new water treatment facility to ensure the provision of high quality clean drinking water. Together, these two projects will improve water supply and water quality for local communities in Cape Clear and will ensure the long-term sustainable provision of drinking water for the island."

(CD/LM)