20 years to halve number of water leaks

Leakage from our water networks is so bad that Irish Water predicts that it will take up to 20 years to cut the number of leaks in half.

Jerry Grant, Irish Water’s head of assets, told the Irish Examiner that an initial €150m investment would probably only result in a 5%-6% reduction in leak rates over the next three years. Leakage from the water networks averages over 41% across the country, twice the UK level.

Irish Water is preparing a strategy which will include the Government’s proposal for a “first fix” offer to customers, whereby leaks reported after the installation of a meter will be repaired, subject to conditions.