Irish Water has awarded Shareridge Ltd a major new construction contract that will result in critical upgrades to the drinking water supply for customers in Ratoath, Kilbride and Ashbourne.

The project is just one of a number of strategically important projects to increase the security and resilience of the drinking water supply across County Meath. When completed, the upgrades will provide a more reliable water supply for homes and businesses while supporting social and economic growth and development in areas which have seen unprecedented growth in recent years.

The project involves the construction of a new, state-of-the-art, elevated 4.7 million litre treated water storage reservoir and secondary disinfection system, adjacent to the existing Windmill Hill Reservoir. As part of the project, Irish Water will also replace over 7km of old and problematic water mains that are prone to frequent bursts, causing supply disruptions for customers in Ratoath, Kilbride and Ashbourne. The old water mains are being replaced by larger, modern, more resilient pipes which will also address low water pressure particularly for customers in Ratoath and Kilbride during periods of peak demand, while also enabling housing growth and development in these areas.

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William McKnight, Infrastructure Delivery Lead with Irish Water, said: "This project is an important milestone in the delivery of a more secure and reliable water supply for our customers in Meath. The new reservoir and associated infrastructure will enable Irish Water to meet current and future demands of homes and businesses across Ratoath, Kilbride and Ashbourne for decades to come, attracting new industry and allowing existing companies to expand and grow."

Pat Wickham, Senior Executive Engineer with Meath County Council, echoed the sentiments, said: "This is a critical water project for the people of Ratoath, Kilbride and Ashbourne and will provide a much more secure and reliable water supply for generations to come. The old and existing asbestos cement water main is prone to frequent bursts, causing water outages and low pressure, particularly for customers in Ratoath and Kilbride during periods of peak demand. The new mains will address these issues and also enable much needed housing growth and development."