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Uisce Éireann has announced a €1.6 million investment at the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant in Cork City to enhance water treatment processes and tackle ongoing discolouration issues. This investment forms part of a series of initiatives aimed at addressing water quality challenges across Cork City.
Despite the plant meeting global and national water treatment standards, Uisce Éireann is implementing additional treatment measures to further treat the source water at intake and before it leaves the plant. This move follows a significant €100 million investment in Cork City’s water infrastructure over recent years, including a €40 million upgrade to the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant in 2022, which introduced advanced water treatment systems, pumping stations, and flood protection measures.
Brian O’Leary, Uisce Éireann’s Regional Operations Manager for the Southwest, said:
“Good progress has been made to advance two new processes, one to remove manganese and a second to condition the final water. In recent years, we have identified increased instances of the naturally occurring mineral, manganese, in raw water, in a number of water supplies across the country. In Cork, we have expedited the installation of the manganese removal step partly in response to an event at the end of August which saw elevated levels of manganese detected in the network. The manganese removal system should be in place by the end of 2024, while the scheduled completion date for the installation of all works is mid-2025.”
The organisation has taken a proactive approach to address discolouration, with a Water Quality taskforce implementing various measures such as targeted flushing programmes, additional sampling and testing, and watermains rehabilitation.
Key Initiatives in Cork City Include:
- Targeted Flushing Programme: A proactive flushing programme is being conducted to remove sediment lodged in ageing cast iron mains. This programme has improved water quality in areas like Douglas Road, Gurranabraher/Blarney Street, and Gardiner’s Hill/Montenotte. Current works are focused on Ballyvolane and are expected to continue until November.
- Mains Rehabilitation: With an estimated investment of €500 million needed to replace the entire cast iron mains network over several decades, significant progress has been made in watermains replacement works, including completed works on Edward Walsh Road and Pophams Road, with ongoing works in Dublin Hill.
- Sampling and Testing: Uisce Éireann continues to conduct additional proactive sampling at numerous locations and is utilising data visualisation techniques to identify trends in reported discolouration incidents, allowing for targeted responses.
The modernisation of the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant has resulted in the supply being removed from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Remedial Action List, a testament to the improvements made. The EPA Drinking Water Report has acknowledged the efforts, stating that “the replacement of this plant is a welcome improvement in the safety and security of a major water supply to citizens in our second-largest city.”
Public health remains a top priority, and Uisce Éireann encourages customers experiencing discolouration to contact their 24/7 customer care helpline at 1800 278 278. Additionally, a free text service is available to provide real-time updates on local water supply issues, which customers can sign up for using their Eircode and mobile number.
For more information, visit Uisce Éireann’s Water Quality page here.