Latest Laois News: Minister of State highlights major Laois reduction in wasted water

Major Reduction in Water being Wasted in Laois – Fleming

Sean Fleming T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Finance highlighted the major reductions in the amount of water being wasted through leaks in Co.  Laois in recent times as follows:

“Over 6 million litres of water, enough to supply 46,000 people per day is now being saved as a result of the major programme to fix leaks in the Water Supply Network by Irish Water.

18 kilometres of older damaged water mains in several towns and villages have been replaced.  212 leaks have been repaired through the “Find and Fix a Leak Scheme”.  New water mains have been installed in Portlaoise, Portarlington, Durrow and in a number of villages, all resulting in 6 million litres of water being saved each day.

This is excellent progress and I look forward to Irish Water working with Laois County Council to improve the situation even further. 

Nationally, 46% of all water produced was lost through leakage in 2018 and this is expected to be reduced to 38% leakage by the end of 2021.  This is excellent progress but we need to reduce the leaks even further in future years.

Finally, I have asked Irish Water for the rate of leakage on a county by county basis.  When I receive this as Minister of State in the Department of Finance I will use this information to ensure priority is given in future to areas with the highest wastage of water through leakage.

The email I received from Irish Water on this issue is below.

A lot done.  More to do.”