Coffey Northumbrian Limited has been appointed to replace around 100 old lead service pipes with modern high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic pipes at a number of locations in Tullow, Co Carlow.

The project is part of Irish Water's National Leakage Reduction Programme which represents an investment of €500 million over the next four years to reduce leakage and remove old lead pipes from the public water network.

The work is to start this month and is expected to take 12 weeks to complete.

The works will involve laying a new water supply pipe from the public water main in the street to the customer's property boundary and connecting it to the customer's water supply. This may involve some short-term water shut offs and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours prior notice of any planned water shut offs.

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Mark O'Duffy, Irish Water's Networks Programme Regional Lead, said: "Irish Water is responsible for the pipe from the outer edge of the boundary of a property. The property owner is responsible for the pipe from the outer edge of the property boundary to the building and all the internal plumbing. Where public side lead pipework is replaced as part of this project, the customer will be notified that it is likely that there is lead pipework present within their property. This notice will include tips on identifying lead pipework as well as information on a private side lead pipework replacement grant available from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

"As well as providing a safer water supply for customers, the replacement of the aging lead service connections, many of which are in poor condition, will reduce the instances of bursts in the area and thereby significantly reduce the level of disruption to Irish Water customers in Tullow."

Diversions will be put in place during the works.

(CD/MH)