Minister James Browne is authorising a number of immediate measures to be taken by Uisce Éireann to enhance the water and wastewater network resilience following Storm Éowyn. Uisce Éireann’s crisis response plan was activated meaning that almost 400,000 customers had supplies through back-up generation – despite this at the peak of the storm 130,000 customers were without water.
While a full review is to be completed by Uisce Éireann by the end of February – the Minister has requested a number of actions be taken immediately. These measures include the immediate purchase of an additional 100 mobile generators and the acceleration of work to make sites “generator ready”. To date this programme has primarily focused on treatment plants – the programme will be expanded to include reservoirs and pumping stations with an additional 100 sites to be made “generator ready” in 2025 with a further 500 sites to be added through 2026 and 2027.
Uisce Éireann will also accelerate discussions with telecommunications providers regarding satellite connectivity for mobile phones to improve the company’s communication infrastructure. Storm Éowyn affected 286 Water Treatment Plants and 293 Wastewater Treatment Plants.
