Uisce Éireann works to 'minimise' impact of burst water main in Portlaoise
Few Portlaoise customers have lost supply but traffic hit in Laois town
Uisce Éireann says its crews minimised the impact of the burst main in Portlaoise which has caused traffic disruption in the town and cut supply to some homes.
In a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois LIve, the State-owned company said it had reduced the impact of a leak that flooded the Dublin Road by reconfiguring the network.
It said this meant that about 25 homes on the Dublin Road from SS Peter and Paul’s Parish Church to Portlaoise Prison have been experiencing an interruption to supply as a result of the leak which happened on Monday evening, May 26.
As temperatures soar to the high 20s, Uisce Éireann’s James Joyce has assured customers that every effort is being made to restore a full water supply as quickly as possible.
“We understand the inconvenience of an unplanned interruption, and we thank customers for their support while our work continues,” he said
The utility said on Wednesday that repairs were expected to be completed by 4 pm. It said that it typically takes two to three hours following repairs for normal supply to restore to all customers affected by an unplanned outage. However, it may take longer for normal supply to be restored to customers at the end of the network or on higher ground as the system recharges. MORE BELOW PHOTO.
To ensure the safety of the crews carrying out the repairs to the burst and the safety of the public, the company, which is also known as Irish Water, said traffic management will be in place and will be clearly signposted.
The statement also said vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communications from them for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours. To register as a vulnerable customer or as an alternative contact, visit our Vulnerable Customers page.
Uisce Éireann added in its statement that it is committed to keeping customers informed across multiple platforms 24/7 and we encourage customers to engage with us through our website, X channels @IWCare and @IrishWater and through our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.
Uisce Éireann also said it has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. It said customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at our Text Updates page.