Major Dún Laoghaire water main damaged by unauthorised access

A major water main, serving about half the population of the Dún Laoghaire council area, has been severely damaged with the loss of about one million litres of water a day.

The leak, which has been running for more than a fortnight, was caused by the main pipe being “damaged by a third party” according to Irish Water, who said it was not due to any authorised work being carried out by the utility or its agents.

Contractors working on behalf of Irish Water began work yesterday to repair the break in the main which is buried 30ft underground beside the Leopardstown Inn on Brewery Road, Stillorgan.

The depth of the pipe meant the water dispersed into the ground and it took some time for the damage to be detected. The pipe, which carries about 25 million litres of water a day to homes and business across the Dún Laoghaire area, is still functioning despite the massive leakage.

Contractors yesterday fenced off the site and erected “deep excavation” warnings ahead of work to temporarily fix the leak. Permanent repairs, which are expected to take six weeks, could cost in the region of €100,000.

The damaged main is about 100 metres from the Stillorgan reservoir, the largest reservoir of treated water supplying Dublin. The reservoir serves Dún Laoghaire and Blackrock, as well as Booterstown, Monkstown, Deansgrange and many surrounding areas.

In a statement yesterday Irish Water confirmed that the main was damaged by a third party on February 10th, but said it could make no further comment because an investigation was under way.

It is an offence under the Water Services Acts to cause damage to a main, and is subject to a fine of up to €5,000. Non-domestic water charges in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority area are €1.04 for every 1,000 litres of water used.