Cavan water mains rehab ‘substantially complete’

The multi-million euro water mains rehabilitation project for Cavan Town is “substantially complete”, according to a spokesperson for Irish Water.

Work on the sixth and final phase began in August, with the project having started back in January 2020. It involved the installation of approximately 1079 meters of new water mains and 60 service connections as part of Irish Water's Leakage Reduction Programme.

Works also included the replacement of ageing water mains with high-density polyethylene (plastic) pipes, and the decommissioning of 212 metres of problematic mains.

A variety of factors including weather, ground conditions and services hampered progress of the project through the early phases; while restrictions around COVID-19 also had an impact.

But work got back on track, with the final section of work currently underway in the Athbara area.

The major mains rehabilitation follows on from the Cavan Town Sewer Rehabilitation and Wastewater Treatment Plant, completed 2017.

The €14.5 million investment in Wastewater Treatment Plant and €9.5 million investment in Cavan town sewerage network have provided the County Town with a state-of-the-art wastewater collection and treatment system.

The works included the upgrading of the existing treatment plant, which was built to cater for a population equivalent of 30,000, up from 20,000.

The pumping stations and storm water tanks were also upgraded.

The sewerage network project, meanwhile, involved the construction of 13 kilometres of new wastewater collection network.

A storm water retention tank was also constructed in the centre of Cavan Town.

Other projects countywide

Mains rehabilitation works are meanwhile presently underway also in Blacklion; Monaghan Road, Cootehill; and Swanlinbar. In total 3.1km of mains will be replaced once the projects are completed.

Work at the Bailieborough Road, Shercock, aimed at replacing approximately 350 meters of old and damaged water mains and laying new water service connections to customers’ property boundaries, has since been completed.

Subsequently, Irish Water issued a statement thanking local residents for their cooperation and patience while old problematic water mains were replaced.

The works were carried out on behalf of Irish Water by Farrans Construction Ltd.

Irish Water says that fixing leaks can be complicated with over 63,000km of water pipe in Ireland.

In 2018 the rate of leakage nationally was 46%, by the end of 2019 it was 42% and the State utility company are currently on course to achieve a national leakage rate of 38% by 2021.

Capital leak detection and leak repair works have been completed in counties Cavan and Monaghan under the 'Find and Fix' workstream in numerous priority District Metering Areas (DMA) to reduce leakage.

It has led to numerous new and replacement DMA meter installations to date under the LRP contract.

Public side lead-pipe replacement has taken place at Church street in Cavan Town, Mount St Joseph, and also St Phelim Place, and at O'Neill Park and Sunbeam Terrace in Clones.

Other works have taken place at St Bridget's Terrace and Cootehill Road in Cavan Town; Erne Steet in Belturbet; Mount Pleasant, Ballyconnell; and Mount Pleasant, Ballyconnell; as well as Belgium Park/ Belgium Square in Monaghan Town; and in Smithborough where 140 metres of new pipework was laid.

Separately, mains rehabilitation has been completed in Newbliss; Muckno Street, Castleblayney; Main Street, Castleblayney; Clones; Tullynahinera (Total 4.1km), and substantially completed at Main Street, Glaslough (1.1km).