Water outages in Cork City due to 'significant watermains burst'
The utility said such works often lead to increased reports of sediment becoming dislodged from old pipes, leading to discoloured water coming from taps.
Hundreds of Cork city centre homes and businesses are facing a day-long water outage following a significant burst to a watermain.
Uisce Éireann said the unplanned outage is required to allow complex repair works to be carried out on the pipe on Infirmary Road.
The utility said such works often lead to increased reports of sediment becoming dislodged from old pipes, leading to discoloured water coming from taps.
It said areas impacted include:
- Infirmary Road;
- Langford Row;
- Southern Road;
- High Street;
- Summerhill South, Quaker Road;
- Windmill Road;
- Old BlackRock Road;
- Borreenmanna Road;
- And the Blackrock Road and surrounding areas.
The utility said such works often lead to increased reports of sediment becoming dislodged from old pipes, leading to discoloured water coming from taps.
Uisce Éireann advised affected customers not to drink discoloured water and said that running the tap for up to 20 minutes will usually restore clear water, which is safe to drink.
It also said it is carrying out an analysis of the water supply in the city, and monitoring the city's water distribution network to "ensure the water is compliant with drinking water regulations and is safe to drink".
The results of these tests will be shared with both the EPA and the HSA, Uisce Éireann said.
Following repair works, it typically takes two to three hours for normal supply to fully restore to all areas as the water refills the network, especially for those on higher ground or at the end of the network.
Sean Lynch, the operations lead for Uisce Éireann in Cork City, said they understand the inconvenience that unplanned outages can have, and he thanked customers for their support.
“Given the location of the burst, the repair works are more complex and may take longer than usual,” he said.
“The majority of customers should see their water supply returned tonight and we will continue to keep the community updated as the works progress.”
Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communications from the utility for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours.
You can contact the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and updates are also issued via Facebook and X @IWCare.
Real-time information on water outages and supply issues can be found on Uisce Éireann's website.
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