Uisce Éireann invests €1.6m to further tackle 'dirty water' issues in Cork City 

Uisce Éireann acknowledges some areas of Cork City continue to experience discolouration. File picture

Uisce Éireann has announced a further investment of €1.6m at the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant as part of its ongoing efforts to tackle water discolouration issues in Cork City. 

The new investment aims to improve both the intake of water and treated water before it leaves the plant. 

While the existing infrastructure meets global and national water treatment standards, the additional measures form part of a broader strategy by Uisce Éireann to address recurring water quality concerns in the city.

The discoloured water crisis in Cork City first emerged almost two years ago. A survey earlier this year found some of those affected by the problem were spending more on bottled water in a month than they would have faced in water charges.

The recent investment follows a number of upgrades to Cork’s water infrastructure. In recent years, Uisce Éireann has spent more than €100m improving water infrastructure in Cork City. 

The largest portion of this was a €40m upgrade of the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant, completed in 2022. 

That project involved the construction of a new plant, the installation of advanced water treatment systems, and upgrades to the network, including new pumping stations, water mains, and flood protection measures. 

According to Uisce Éireann, these improvements have delivered a more secure and resilient water supply to homes and businesses throughout the city.

Uisce Éireann regional operations manager for the South-West Brian O’Leary highlighted the progress made to improve water treatment, saying "good progress has been made to advance two new processes, one to remove manganese and a second to condition the final water". 

Mr O'Leary explained naturally occurring manganese had been detected in Cork's water supply, and Uisce Éireann was accelerating efforts to remove the mineral following elevated levels detected in August. 

He added: "The manganese removal system should be in place by the end of 2024, while the scheduled completion date for all works is mid-2025."

These new measures come in addition to other ongoing efforts by Uisce Éireann’s Water Quality Taskforce to reduce discolouration in the city's water supply. 

The taskforce has been actively involved in targeted flushing programs, increased water sampling and testing at multiple locations, and the rehabilitation and replacement of ageing water mains. 

Mr O'Leary noted Cork’s cast iron water mains, some of which date back to the late 1800s, require significant investment for long-term replacement. 

“Mains rehabilitation works are also under way in Cork City, with an investment of approximately €500m required, across several decades, to replace the entire cast iron mains network."

Despite these investments, Uisce Éireann acknowledges some areas of Cork City continue to experience discolouration. 

The company has moved to reassure residents and businesses it is working to address the root causes and encourages anyone affected to report issues. 

“Public health remains our top priority, and water is safe to drink once it is running clear. We continue to encourage customers to contact us directly in the event of discolouration," the utility has said.

The company said it was committed to keeping the community informed about ongoing efforts. 

For those experiencing issues, Uisce Éireann offers a 24/7 customer care helpline at 1800 278 278, ensuring all reports are prioritised and actioned as needed.