Uisce Éireann has deployed crews to the Aherla area of County Cork to address a significant unplanned outage caused by a second burst on the water supply network.

The incident, which occurred earlier today, comes swiftly after the completion of repairs to a separate burst in the same locality yesterday, underscoring the ongoing maintenance challenges for critical infrastructure.

The essential construction and repair work is focused on isolating and mending the damaged section of the pipeline, which is impacting the water supply for customers in Ovens, Kilumney, Aherla, and other surrounding areas.

Michael Bell of Uisce Éireann acknowledged the disruption caused to residents.

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"We understand the inconvenience of an unplanned outage and we thank customers for their support while our works continue. The repairs are expected to be completed later tonight," he confirmed.

The utility company is prioritising a rapid completion of the complex pipe repairs to restore service as quickly as possible. Once the construction work is finished, it typically takes between two and three hours for the normal water supply to be fully restored to all affected customers as the network system recharges. However, those on higher ground or at the extremities of the network may experience a slightly longer delay before full pressure returns.

In the interim, Uisce Éireann has established an alternative water supply for the affected community at Orchard Lane, Aherla. The utility is adhering to public health guidelines, reminding customers collecting water from the tanker that they must boil the water prior to use as a precautionary measure, in line with HSE advice.

Uisce Éireann is maintaining active communication with customers on the progress of the essential maintenance, particularly with vulnerable customers who are registered to receive direct updates for outages lasting more than four hours.