Water conservation projects in county Kilkenny have seen a significant reduction in the amount of unaccounted for water in recent years but there remains work to be done.
Council water services engineer Michael Murphy told local members this week that Kilkenny had managed to reduce its unaccounted water by 18 per cent since conservation began in January 2009.
This was at a cost of €5m, with more than 2,250 leaks repaired in that time period, 61 per cent of those were public and 39 per cent private.
Current figures show that 47.1 per cent of the county’s water supply remains unaccounted for, which Mr Murphy said compared favourably with other counties.
However the council has set an interim target of 45 percent, and Mr Murphy said it was important to remember that unaccounted water levels could not be solely attributed to leaks, as illegitimate usage and illegal connections also had to be considered.
“Twenty-five per cent is considered zero as there comes a point where it’s not economical to go looking for leaks. Kilkenny is producing less and less leaks,” he said.
“There has been no rationing since water conservation began where we did have rationing before, so it’s making a difference.”
The next stage of the council’s conservation project involves a €15m drive to replace water mains around the county.
Advance funding of €2.4m will go towards replacing water mains in four areas; Station Road, Thomastown; Tibberaghny Rd, Piltown; Ullid, Kilmacow; and Ballinaboley, Kilmacow.
When questioned about leaks in Inistioge, Mr Murphy said Inistioge actually had a low level of unaccounted for water and the problems there were with the water quality and the flow.
A temporary new treatment plant has been installed but the council is considering sourcing water from Thomastown at a cost of €4m, which may require the development of a new well in the area.
