The Dublin Rehabilitation Project is the largest project of its kind ever attempted in Ireland. Seven local authorities in the Dublin region together with the Department of the Environmental, Heritage and Local Government have committed to conserving water and creating an effective water network.

The following administrative areas are included in the Project:

§                                Dublin City Council

§                                Fingal county Council

§                                South Dublin County Council

§                                Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

§                                Bray Town Council

§                                Kildare County Council (North County)

§                                Wicklow County Council (North East Council)

While the Dublin Region is fortunate in having a number of water sources, this water must be treated at considerable cost and transported through over 7,200km of watermains before it gets to our taps. It is estimated that up to 800km of water mains are over 80 years old.

Many of the pipes are in such poor condition that they are prone to bursts, leaks and low water pressure, therefore it makes sense that the treated water is not wasted in this way.

The Dublin Region Water Rehabilitation Project has been established to assist in reducing leakage by identifying and replacing the old water mains that have outlived their usefulness.

A budget of €118m has been provided by Central Government through the Department of the Environment, Heritage and by the Local Authorities to be invested over the period 2006 to 2012 in rehabilitating Dublin's watermains. The Rehabilitating Project is currently in the design stage, at this stage the project team are identifying those areas that will yield the greatest future water and repair savings in the most cost effective manner.

Some site investigation work will be carried out to ensure the feasibility of the proposed works. The project team will then procure the services of appropriate rehabilitation contractors to carry out works on those watermains that will provide the greatest return on investment in terms of water saving.

The Dublin region is broken up in to smaller areas for water metering, these are called District Meter Area (DMA). The DMAs have been graded in order of highest leakage and the top 60 have been identified. An initial list of 60 District Metered Areas have been chosen out of which a shortlist of 40 will be rehabilitated. The DMAs will be chosen based on the highest leakage saving per Euro spent.

The first three DMAs have no progressed to Outline Design Stage. From this top 60, 13 areas have been chosen as part of the Year 1 works.

Merion Road                                          Kilmainham

Anglesea Road                                     Mespil Road

Pembroke Road                                   Grand Canal Street

Irishtown                                                 All Hallows (Drumcondra)

Skelly's Lane ( Malahide)                     Crumlin Cross

Construction work in the region commenced in mid 2007, beginning in the South East area of Dublin. In order to minimise the disruptive impact of the works, the project work will be phased over a time frame of five years and will take place work in several small contracts in order to cause the least possible impact on householders, businesses and commuters.

To keep you informed and to cause the least amount of disruption, Dublin City Council will be communicating with you well in advance of any water shut off that may take place in any place that directly affects you.

A series of information leaflets and reminders will be delivered to all homes/ businesses six weeks, one week and 48 hours before work commences in the area.

Residents/ businesses who have a health or other special need for water supply to be maintained during works on their street will be accommodated and should make the project team aware of their circumstances

Under normal circumstances for most residential customers affected in a particular area, water will be off for less than 10 hours, from 8am in the morning to 6pm in the evening. It is possible that for some days before and after this, customers may experience further shorter shut offs at the beginning and end of the working day. Customers will be notified in each and every occasion this happens.

Detailed traffic management plans for works that need to be carried out on main roads will be made, and works will be advertised in advance on roadside signage and other media.

During the works an emergency 24-hour phone number will be in operation. This number will be printed on the shut-off and Water on notices and it will also be displayed clearly on site.

Who to contact.
Should you require any further information please contact the Project Office at Tel: 2224384 or email ronan.orourke@dublincity.ie

If you have any problems when work starts please call 1890 882 410(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) or visit www.watermainsrehab.ie