OLD and damaged water mains in Baltimore are to be replaced making for a more reliable water supply for the entire community.

Uisce Éireann confirmed that the Ward and Burke Construction Ltd have been contracted to do the work which will start in mid-April and be completed in the month of May.

Work crews will be installing 290 metres of new, modern pipes at the Beacon road because the existing pipes were prone to bursts and leaks, leading to supply interruptions and the loss of treated drinking water.

'By focusing on delivering a more reliable supply, we’re helping to build a stronger, more resilient water service for the people of Baltimore, now and for generations to come,' Jack Cronin of Uisce Éireann told The Southern Star.

The work will include new water service connections from the public water main on the road to customers’ property boundaries.

Uisce Éireann said customers with questions about the project can contact them on 1800 278 278, or they can go to the Water Supply Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website for regular updates.

Uisce Éireann made the point that with more than 65,000 km of underground pipes nationally, 'It's enough to circle the earth one and a half times.'

Fixing leaks, according to the water utility, can be complicated because many are hidden. However, it reports that the level of leakage nationally is now at its lowest ever, having been reduced from 49% in 2014 to 36% today.