Cork’s dirty water problem: Irish Water announces another major blast of pipe flushing

The utility, which has been under fire for months because of dirty tap water across the city’s network, provided the details in the latest update from its dedicated Water Quality Taskforce which was set up to address the ongoing water discolouration issues affecting its customers across the city.

It comes just days after the Taoiseach was quizzed in the Dáil by Cork North Central TD Mick Barry again about the issue.

In a statement, Uisce Éireann regional operations manager for the southwest, Brian O’Leary, said the taskforce is doing everything possible to minimise discolouration and to address the underlying issues.

Flushing is designed to dislodge sediment from inside the city’s ageing network of cast iron pipes. Proactive flushing was recently completed in Gurranbraher, Blarney Street, and in the Douglas area and is ongoing in the Murmount and Montenotte areas of the northside.

From this weekend, flushing will take place in Ballyvolane, and will take about seven weeks to complete. The utility has identified several other areas for flushing by the middle of November.

“We are seeing a positive trend in areas that have been flushed to date and, on this basis, we expect these works to lead to further improvements in water quality,” a spokesperson said.

Specialists are also monitoring the performance of the new Lee Road water treatment plant and while its treatment processes are fully in line with water treatment standards used nationally and globally, Uisce Éireann said raw water and its treatment require constant tweaks and monitoring because no two water sources are exactly the same.

“Uisce Éireann has reviewed the interaction of the potable water produced at the facilities with the ageing network to investigate what can be done to minimise any further sediment dislodgement from the pipes and we are progressing with a conditioning system on the treated water,” it said.

Detailed design is ongoing and it is expected that full implementation of these works will completed by early 2025, the utility said.

Upgrades

Separately, pipe replacement and upgrade works are underway across the city, with water mains replacement works completed on Edward Walsh Road and nearing completion on Popham’s Road. Work on the city south quays project is progressing ahead of schedule, with works completed at South Terrace and Georges Quay, and currently underway at Sullivans Quay.

Further network replacement works are planned for Sydney Park, due to start in July and Dublin Hill, due to start in September. These works are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Uisce Éireann said while it is working with Cork City Council on a plan for mains rehabilitation for 2025, an investment of some €500m is required across several decades to replace the city’s entire cast iron mains network. Mr O’Leary said: “Public health remains our top priority and we want to reiterate that water is safe to drink once it is running clear.

“We continue to advise customers not to drink discoloured water and to contact us directly with any reports of discolouration to help us manage the response in real time and to prioritise reactive works. Callbacks to customers who have previously raised concerns over discoloured water are ongoing.”