Irish Water is set to invest €13.8 million in Donegal’s local infrastructure which will result in significant improvements in network performance and security and efficiency of water supply.

The €13.8 million investment package is part of the Donegal Countywide Water Main Rehabilitation Project which will see the rehabilitation and replacement of approximately 46 kilometres of aging water mains across the county. The project also includes the elimination of 120 shared backyard services in Ballyshannon Town.

A total of fifteen priority sections of water main spread over seven water supply schemes will benefit from the extensive project , which will be carried out in two phases.

Phase one works is an advance works contract and will see work commence in Ballybofey. It includes the replacement of three kilometres of water main to facilitate road resurfacing to take place on the southern entry into the town in 2017. Site investigation works for this section are scheduled to commence this month and last for approximately four weeks. The Phase 1 water main rehabilitation contract is scheduled to commence in early 2017 with a completion date at the end of quarter two 2017.

Phase two of the project will see the rehabilitation of 43 kilometres of water main with site investigation works due to commence in quarter three, 2016. The water main rehabilitation works themselves will be commence in Q3/4 2017 with a completion date set for the start of 2019.

Declan Cawley, Asset Programme Regional Lead, Irish Water said a detailed programme of works would be available highlighting when works will take place in each location as the project progresses.