Uisce Éireann Invests Close To €100 Million To Replace Over 250km Of Cork County Water Mains

Uisce Éireann has replaced more than 250km of water mains across Cork County since 2014, as part of a close to €100 million investment to strengthen the county's water network.

The scale of the work spans from the Wild Atlantic coastline to towns and rural villages throughout Cork County, with the upgrades aimed at delivering fewer bursts and leaks, less disruption, and a more reliable water supply for homes and businesses while helping to protect treated water.

Kevin Murphy, Portfolio Delivery Manager for Uisce Éireann's Leakage Reduction Programme, said the progress reflects a sustained commitment to improving water infrastructure:

"Cork County's underground water network is one of the largest and most complex in the country, serving hundreds of thousands of people. Replacing over 250km of water mains across the county is a significant undertaking and while the work is complex and takes careful planning and coordination, it is delivering real improvements for communities.

With the work we are doing, we can see that each section of upgraded pipe helps improve water supply, reduce leakage and strengthen the underground pipe network people rely on every day.

Much of the network was installed decades ago, and as pipes age, they become more prone to leaks and bursts. Alongside targeted leak detection, Uisce Éireann is replacing older pipes with modern infrastructure, supporting long-term reliability and future growth.

Water mains rehabilitation is about building a resilient network that communities can rely on for generations to come."

Communities in Freemount, Millstreet, Macroom and Lisgoold are already benefiting from the upgraded infrastructure in 2026, while works are currently underway in Adrigole, Baltimore, Garryvoe, Youghal and Ballymacoda.

Nationally, Uisce Éireann has invested €2 billion in the underground water network through the Leakage Reduction Programme, with a further €1 billion in investment committed by the end of 2029. Water loss nationally has been reduced from 49% in 2014 to 36%, with leakage now at its lowest ever recorded level.

Further information on the Cork County works is available at water.ie.