Irish Water to progress major watermain project in North Dublin

Irish Water is progressing ahead with a major infrastructure project in North Dublin, it has announced.

“The Ballycoolin trunk watermain project involves the construction of an additional regional trunk watermain between Ballycoolin Reservoir and Swords that will help to safeguard the water supply to homes, businesses, hospitals and farms in North Dublin and the wider Greater Dublin Area (GDA),” the water board says.

“The construction of the second regional trunk watermain started in August and is expected to be complete in 2022.”

The existing watermain between Ballycoolin Reservoir and Swords was built in the 1960s and supplies 60 million litres of water every day to homes and businesses in Swords; Portmarnock; Malahide; Balbriggan; Skerries; Rush; Donabate; Clonshaugh; Coolock and Darndale.

“Ballycoolin Reservoir is an important strategic reservoir storing 100 million litres of treated drinking water that is produced at Leixlip Water Treatment plant, one of the country’s largest water treatment plants.

“The delivery of the second trunk watermain will build resilience in the water infrastructure and improve the security of supply for the GDA by providing the capacity to supply an additional 60 million litres of water supporting existing and future residential and commercial development.”

Speaking about the Ballycoolin trunk watermain project, William McKnight, Irish Water, said: “The delivery of this significant project will support existing and future residential and commercial development in the Greater Dublin Area and is one of a number of water projects being delivered in the GDA.

“This project will provide North Dublin with the infrastructure needed to support the building of houses and schools; to attract new industry and to allow companies to expand and grow.”

He added: “The size and scale of the project can be seen clearly from the aerial photography captured at the construction site, while we carefully lay the pipework that will distribute drinking water to homes and businesses in north Dublin.

“Roadbridge Limited are delivering this project on behalf of Irish Water.

“Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland.

“We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.”