Plans to reduce leakage on the national water supply is progressing well in the County Waterford town of Portlaw.

Irish Water is working with Waterford City and County Council to replace 525 metres of ageing and problematic backyard service connections in George Street and William Street in Portlaw.

The works, which are due to begin next week, are a critical step in reducing high levels of leakage which have been a significant source of disruption and outages for customers.

Backyard services are found in older areas, often installed to the rear of a customer's property and typically made of cast iron or lead. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipework, they are often a significant source of leakage and supply disruption for customers. Backyard services are usually shared, running through a number of neighbouring properties making it difficult to detect and repair leaks. Where properties share a connection, leaks and bursts affect all connected properties, resulting in low pressure and/or outages.

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Speaking about the benefits of the project, Joe Carroll, Regional Delivery Lead with Irish Water, said: "Old backyard service connections are a huge source of leakage and continue to impact communities right across Ireland, causing low pressure and supply disruption. Replacing these old water mains and service connections in poor condition will eliminate existing leaks and significantly reduce the amount of clean drinking water lost into the ground. We would like to thank the local residents in Portlaw for facilitating these works and working with us to provide a more secure and reliable water supply for generations to come."

Where water mains are being constructed traffic management will be in place during this time. Local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times.

These works will be carried out by Shareridge Utilities Ltd and are due to be completed by the end of December.