Residents of Phelan Street in Rathvilly are set to benefit from a more secure water supply as Uisce Éireann prepares to begin a project next week to replace deteriorating watermains.

The works aim to tackle high levels of leakage in the area while simultaneously improving the quality of local drinking water.

The upgrade involves the decommissioning of ageing infrastructure and the installation of 230 metres of modern piping along Phelan Street. In many older properties in the area, existing connections are made of lead or iron; due to their age, these pipes have become a primary cause of service disruption and water loss. Additionally, many of these properties share connections, meaning a single burst can result in low water pressure for multiple neighbouring homes.

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Dave Murphy, Portfolio Manager with Uisce Éireann, expressed his support for the project, stating: "Aged watermains and old service connections contribute significantly to water leakage and quality issues. The replacement of these deteriorating watermains and service connections will improve water quality and the resilience of the network, eliminate existing leaks and reduce the amount of clean water lost into the ground.

"The works will also improve the operation of the network by reducing the need for frequent repairs to aged watermains, resulting in a positive impact on leakage and on the daily lives of residents. We would like to thank the local community for their support and patience in advance as we carry out these essential works."

The project is being managed by David Walsh Civil Engineering Ltd on behalf of Uisce Éireann, and affected residents will be contacted directly by the contractor.

This initiative is part of a national effort to modernise Ireland's 65,000 km of underground water pipes. While many leaks remain hidden underground, significant progress has been made in recent years; national leakage levels have been reduced from 49% in 2014 to a current record low of 36%.