Work to repair an old water main which bursts frequently has started in Portarlington, Co Laois.

The work on the Canal Road area is to replace 600 metres of the water main.

It will involve the replacement of the existing old and damaged public water main and replacing it with ductile iron pipes. The works will also see the replacement of old damaged service connections.

The benefits of the project include a more reliable and secure water supply, improved water quality and reducing leakage in the network, while also allowing for future development in the town and surrounding areas.

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The works are being carried out on behalf of Irish Water by Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. It is expected that most of the works will be finished before Christmas with the remaining works completed in January 2018.

Georgina O'Reilly, Regional Lead of the Water Network Programme said: "The existing public water main on Canal Road has experienced bursts over the years resulting in a number of water outages for local residents and businesses and impacting the reliability of the water supply . Replacing the ageing water main with a new modern pipe will provide a long term solution to ensure a safe and secure water supply is delivered to customers. This project is part of Irish Water's commitment to invest in Ireland's water infrastructure which has been underinvested in for decades."

(CD/MH)