Ward and Burke Construction Ltd is set to begin a major watermain replacement project on the South Quay.

The company who has been appointed by Uisce Éireann and Cork City Council will replace over 4.2 kilometres of old cast iron watermains with modern pipes. These watermains which date back to the 1930s, will be decommissioned and replaced with larger, more efficient pipes which will increase the supply capacity of the network.

This €4 million project will commence next week at South Terrace and is expected to be completed by the end of Quarter 1 of 2025. Once finished, the project will provide a more reliable water supply, reduce high levels of leakage and enable growth and development.

This marks the third replacement project initiated in Cork City this year, part of our ongoing efforts to tackle leakage and discolouration issues in the most affected areas of the network while also bolstering development and economic growth. Completion of works on Edward Walsh Road has been achieved, with final touches underway on Popham’s Road. Subsequent works are set to begin later this year at Sydney Park and Dublin Hill.

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Leakage Reduction Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann, Jack Cronin said: "This is a major replacement project that is going to help Cork City thrive by supporting growth and development. Replacing old watermains in a busy city like Cork is not an easy task. Before boots are even on the ground it takes a lot of planning and liaising with our colleagues in the local authority, An Garda Síochána, local businesses and residents. Once the project is completed, the local area will enjoy a more reliable water supply and a more resilient water network that will provide additional capacity to support future development in the area.”

"Our leakage reduction team has been hard at work and have reduced the amount of water lost by 50% in Cork City, that's 17 million litres of water saved across the city every day. We remain committed to further investment in Cork to ensure the delivery of world class water services. We would like to thank customers in advance for their cooperation and patience while we complete these works."

The works will take place between Anglesea Street and Sullivan's Quay, including Union Quay, Copley Street, Cotters Street, Stable Lane, South Terrace, and George’s Quay.