Thousands of homes face water shut-off as council installs meters

WATER supplies will be switched off, at nighttime, to thousands of homes in parts of south Cork over the next 10 days as the county council completes essential works.

The disruption will affect the Carrigaline, Grange, Douglas, Frankfield, Doughcloyne, Rochestown and Ringaskiddy areas as Cork County Council prepares to install new water meters.

However, the works are also aimed at leakage reduction where, last year, the estimated water loss was in the region of 28%.

In 2011 the county council produced about 68 million cubic metres of water, of which 8m was delivered to the Cork city region.

The switch-off of large trunk and distribution water supply mains will also affect businesses and major industries in the region, including the pharmaceutical sector.

County mayor Tim Lombard, who serves the Carrigaline electoral area, said the council has been in talks with some of the larger businesses affected, particularly in the Ringaskiddy area. “The excavation works will be carried out during daytime and the switch offs will occur at nighttime. Council management held talks with industry representatives and, hopefully, contingency plans will be appropriate.”

The Fine Gael councillor said: “Water conservation of supplies is a key element of the continuing works’ programme.

“Current waste levels cannot be sustained and it is envisaged the district meter area scheme will help identify many of the blackspots and ensure the council can address those on a priority basis. We are in the dark about some of the water losses.”

At the council’s 2012 budget meeting two weeks ago county manager Martin Riordan said a legacy of under-investment nationally in replacing end-of-life assets had resulted in very high levels of leaks.

“Unaccounted-for-water (UFW) in 2011, at 49%, was slightly higher than previous years owing in part to the extreme freezing weather conditions experienced at the end of 2010 — the effects of which extended well into the first quarter of 2011.

“It is worth noting, out of the 179 schemes in the county, 33 of the larger schemes — with pipelines of more than 30kms — account for over 90% of the total recoverable UFW.”

The district water meter installation schemes have been continuing in the county since August last. However, with the Carrigaline electoral area affected it will have the largest impact, so far, on domestic users on the fringes of the city.

The Carrigaline area scheme commences today and continues to January 16. It involves new water meter installs, with seven supply shut offs.

Works schedule

* Today: Grange trunk and Calderwood trunk, Douglas (day/night work) — areas affected are: Douglas to Doughcloyne, including Calderwood, Grange, Donnybrook, Ballycureen, Frankfield, Doughcloyne and Lehenaghmore. Shut-off 8pm.

* Tomorrow: Douglas and Donnybrook Hill, Douglas (night work) — areas affected are: Shamrock Lawn, Oakview, Grange Park. Shut-off 8pm.

* Monday: Shannonpark, Carrigaline (day/night work) — areas affected are: from Shannonpark Roundabout to Low Road Crosshaven, including Herrons Wood, Bridgemount, Waterpark, Rockboro Heights, Carragaline, Kilnagleary Business Park and Crosshaven Road. Shut-off 8pm.

* Tuesday: Douglas Court, Rochestown Road (night work) — areas affected are: from the Finger Post roundabout to Ardmore Estate Passage, including, Belgard Downs, Kiltegan, Rochestown Park Hotel, Wainsfort and Maryborough Estate. Shut-off from 10pm.

* Wednesday: Doughcloyne Trunk, Frankfield (night work) — Frankfield to Doughcloyne, including: Woodlands, Frankfield, Curragh Woods, Dunvale, Ballycureen Road, Lehenaghmore, Doughcloyne. Water shut-off 8pm.

* Monday, January 16: Ringaskiddy (day/night work) — Ringaskiddy, Marine College, Pfizer Loughbeg, Deep Water Berth, Du Puy along with Johnson & Johnson. 8pm water shut-off.