Improvement work to upgrade old and ageing water mains throughout Galway city is to begin.

Irish Water has teamed up with Galway City Council and a total of €10 million is being invested to replace 19 kilometres of ageing water mains.

It is estimated that up to 50 per cent of treated water running through the pipes is lost through leakage making this a high priority project for Irish Water. The project also includes the replacement of approximately 1,300 lead service connections and 700 private side service connections.

Works will be carried out in Prospect Hill, Claddagh, Bohermore, Shantalla, Rahoon, Newcastle, Taylor's Hill, Mervue, Roscam and Coolagh. Work on the ground is estimated to start in June 2018 and will take approximately 21 months to complete. Shareridge Limited has been awarded the contract for this essential project.

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Padraig Hanly, Programme Regional Lead, said: "The replacement of ageing water mains in Galway City will ensure customers have a more reliable and secure water supply. Burst water mains are a common problem across the country resulting from decades of under investment in water infrastructure. Irish Water is committed to addressing this and the replacement of these ageing water mains is part of Irish Water's ongoing investment in Ireland’s water infrastructure."

The project will be carried out in stages and will be limited to short sections at a time to minimise disruption to residents, businesses and road users. The works will involve some short-term water shut offs for a number of hours over a day or two in each area when the pipes are being connected to the new water mains. The project team will ensure that householders and businesses are advised of any works in their area and will be given a minimum of 48 hours prior notice of any planned water shut offs.

(CD/MH)