PIPE BURST: Repairs to main now complete

5.20pm 

Repairs to the burst water pipe taking water from the Boyne to the Staleen Water Treatment Plant appear to have been a success and water pressure is gradually being increased through the pipe.

Meath County Council's Director of Service Des Foley said: "So far so good, we are not at full pressure yet but we are hoping it will hold. It is a time issue after that to get the plant back fully operational."

Mr Foley said Ratoath and Kilbride may not see full supply restored until morning and alternative water supplies are in a number of locations in those areas.

Over the next few hours, the water pressure will continue to be increased through the pipe until it is at full capacity and it will take some time for all the reservoirs to be fully replenished before full supply will be restored.

 

2pm: Irish Water has confirmed that the repair of the burst pipeline serving the Staleen Water Treatment Plant is now complete. The utility says as the main recharges over the next few hours they will be in a position to confirm if the repair is successful.

Supply has been maintained to Drogheda and most of East Meath but a water outage is impacting some customers in Ratoath, Kilbride and Duleek.  Alternative water supplies have been mobilised and water tankers are located in Ratoath and Kilbride and water tankers will be in place in Duleek shortly.

The locations are as follows:

Ratoath

·         Nursing Home Town Centre

·         Donnelly’s Hardware

·         SuperValu Carpark

Kilbride

·         Cherrywood Housing Estate

Duleek

·         Church (Green Area)

·         St Cianans Villas

·         Industrial Estate

·         O'Neill’s Pub

Irish Water is continuing to ask all customers to conserve water until they can confirm a timeline for resumption of a normal water supply.  

Meanwhile, a Meath County Council said the repairs have now been completed and water pressure is gradually being restored to ensure the integrity of the repair.

"The majority of customers are currently unaffected by this burst. However supply to Ratoath, Kilbride and Duleek Areas will continue to be affected over the coming hours."

The Council’s Crisis Management Team continues to be in place and further updates will be issued later today.

 

1pm: 

Work is continuing to repair the major burst on the main water pipe taking water from the Boyne to the Staleen Water Treatment Plant and it is hoped the repair can be completed this afternoon.

Meath County Council's Director of Service Des Foley said if all goes well, the repair should be completed by mid afternoon but it could still be morning  before full supply is restored to most areas as it takes time to recharge the system. For some outlying areas it could be later tomorrow before full supply is restored.

Water supplies have been maintained to most areas but it is expected that outages are imminent with Ratoath expected to be first hit, followed by Kilbride and parts of Ashbourne and then Duleek.

A line from Fingal has been taking water to Ashbourne but some areas will still be impacted. A line from Dunshaughlin has been bolstering the supply in Ratoath but several areas will still experience disruptions.

Tankers are being mobilised and will be in place as soon as disruptions occur.

10am: WATER tankers and bottled water will be deployed to areas in east Meath and Drogheda after a water main at the centre of a massive rupture last year that left thousands of residents in Meath and Louth without supply failed again.

Households in Drogheda and east Meath have been asked to conserve water after the pipeline, which serves the Staleen Water Treatment Plant, burst close to the same location as last year.

Irish Water has confirmed that the section  of pipe where the burst occured has been taken out and work is under way to fit the new section. The parts are on site.

Households still have water at present but it is anticipated that supplies will be affected in the coming hours. It is expected that Ratoath will be affected first. 

Irish Water has brought in an alternative line from Fingal and Dunshaughlin to meet some of the demand but several areas will still experience loss of supply.

 

Irish Water have said the following
•  Water supply being maintained to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
•  Alternative water supplies are being mobilised, locations to be confirmed shortly
•  We are asking the public to conserve water until we can confirm a timeline for resumption of a normal water supply

In a statement issued this morning the utility said: "A burst occurred last night on the pipeline serving the Staleen Water Treatment Plant which serves Drogheda & East Meath. Repair crews have been on site throughout the night to excavate the area and locate the burst. Work on the repair is currently underway. The burst is close to the same location as the burst which occurred last year. 

"The treated drinking water reservoir serving Drogheda and East Meath has enough water to maintain a water supply to customers for the present. We are asking all customers to conserve water until we can confirm a timeline for resumption of a normal water supply.  Ashbourne, Ratoath and Duleek would be the first areas to experience water outages. Water supply is being maintained to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and we are also prioritising schools, nursing homes, crèches and vulnerable customers.

"Alternative water supplies are being mobilised and water tankers and bottled water will be deployed. We will confirm locations of these this morning. We are also prioritising the water supply to key events that are taking place in the area over today.

"While we are hopeful that the repair on this occasion will be achieved in a shorter timeframe and our full Crisis Management Team is in place so that we will have contingency measures in place to respond to whatever circumstances arise. 

However, speaking on LMFM radio this morning, Cllr Wayne Harding said it was not feasible to for Irish Water to suggest ath teh new water pipes for the stretch of pipeline at the Staleen site will be in place by the end of the year, saying its an impossible ask and the company are making committments they cannot follow through on.

Supply disruptions to Ashbourne, Ratoath and Duleek and surrounding areas in East Meath are expected and even if the repairs are completed quickly, it will take some time for the reservoirs to refill. Local councillors have blasted what they claim was inaction on the part of Irish Water in reaching agreement with landowners to access lands to commence repair and replacement works.

Eamonn Gallen, general manager of Irish Water apologised to customers and said crews had been working since 11pm last night who were working to restore supply to all affected areas as soon as possible. 

He repeated calls to consumers to conserve water during this period.