Uisce Éireann is advancing a major programme in Drogheda, Ireland’s largest town, to phase out ageing shared backyard water connections and install modern, more resilient mains.

The effort aims to improve safety, reliability and water pressure while tackling hidden leakage across older neighbourhoods.

Since 2021, 841 backyard service connections have been replaced in Drogheda, with a further 364 due to be completed by the end of this year. To date, 5.6 km of new water mains have been laid, with another 2.1 km scheduled for completion in 2026. Removing old shared backyard services and introducing durable mains reduces hard‑to‑detect leaks, helps maintain pressure for homes and businesses, and cuts the volume of treated drinking water that is lost.

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Backyard services were typically installed behind properties and shared between households, often using iron or lead pipes. With age, they have become vulnerable to bursts, leaks and pressure drops. Because they cross several gardens, they are difficult to access for repairs, and supply interruptions can affect multiple homes at once. Replacing them with individual connections at the front of each property provides a safer and more dependable supply for every household.

Uisce Éireann has been working with residents in Lagavoreen, Moneymore and Yellowbatter to decommission these older arrangements and reroute services to the public road and footpaths, giving each home its own modern connection.

Crews are progressing on a house‑by‑house basis, coordinating with customers to minimise disruption. While much of this work is out of public view, it is delivering tangible improvements to daily life by strengthening resilience and the reliability of essential services. "You won’t see backyard services works on main roads or in large construction sites," said Uisce Éireann's Declan Healy. "Unless you're living in the area or housing estate where the works are, you might not be aware they are happening. They are quiet but hugely impactful upgrades in customers back gardens, and the impact is far-reaching - providing improved water quality, supply reliability and reduced leakage for thousands of people across the town."