Ward & Burke Construction is starting work to upgrade an ageing water main in Co Laois.

The work, to replace 3.6kms of ageing water main prone to bursts in Castletown Village and on the R445 on the Mountrath Road, is to start on Monday, 09 April. The scheme is expected to take 12 weeks to complete.

The project involves the replacement of existing old and damaged asbestos concrete public water mains with high density polyethylene (plastic) pipes. The existing water mains are in place since the mid 1900's. The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the street to customers' property boundaries and connecting it to the water supply in customers' homes and businesses.

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Georgina O'Reilly, Regional Lead for the Water Network Programme, said: "These sections of water mains in Castletown Village and on the R445 on the Mountrath Road have 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 mains with a new modern pipe will provide a long term solution to ensure a safe and secure water supply is delivered to customers."

(CD/LM)