A team of Irish Water and Kilkenny County Council representatives have launched a water mains improvement scheme in Kilkenny.

Work got underway earlier this week to replace ageing backyard water mains and providing new service connections for customers on Michael Street.

This project involves the replacement of water connections, typically made of iron or lead, that were installed in the back gardens of some older housing estates. The pipework, due to age and deteriorating condition, are a significant source of leakage and reduced levels of service. Backyard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties, making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Since all properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all properties; usually resulting in low pressure.

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The works on Michael Street involve the decommissioning of ageing backyard water mains, the delivery of 235 meters of new water mains constructed along the public road, and the provision of new individual services to all properties. 

Outlining the benefits the Backyard Service Replacement Project will bring, Joe Carroll from Irish Water, explained: "Replacing these old and problematic pipes on Michael Street will reduce the drinking water lost by leakage and will bring an all-round improvement to water quality for the local community. 

"In partnership with Shareridge Ltd and Kilkenny County Council, we have been engaging with the local residents and aim to complete the works with as little disruption as possible. However, the works may involve some short-term water outages but our project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48-hours' notice prior to any planned water outages. 

"Where watermains are being constructed, traffic management may be in place. Parking spaces may be temporarily closed in order to complete works. Local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times."