Update 9.20am

IRISH WATER HAS said it will be Thursday at the earliest before full supply is restored to Drogheda and east Meath after a water main burst on Friday.

The water main at Staleen water treatment plant, close to Drogheda, burst on Friday afternoon. This morning,  the water company said its repair solutions were not holding due to the complexity of the repair and the age of the pipe.

Irish Water’s Conor Foley RTÉ Morning Ireland that a new fitting will have to be built from scratch. A company in Northern Ireland is currently working on this and the bespoke fittings will be available late tomorrow.

He said repairs will take place on Wednesday and the company is “hopeful” to fully restore the supply on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, that’s the situation we’re in at the moment,” he said.

‘Critically depleted’

In a statement this morning, Irish Water said “storage reservoir levels are now critically depleted”.

The rotating water roster, whereby water is rationed to different areas in a planned way has now been temporarily suspended. The shut off should result in more available water in the reservoir. Irish Water must completely switch off the water in order to ensure supply to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda is maintained.

It said water repairs were challenging due to the age and type of pipe.

“Three different repair solutions have been undertaken so far. Due to the complexity of the repair and age of the pipe and ability to withstand very high working pressures standard and modified fitting arrangements are not holding. It is now necessary to build from scratch another bespoke solution,” the company said this morning.

“Temporary water stations have been established at 21 locations across the network and these will continue to be replenished from early morning. Further locations will added as demand dictates and the public will be advised of this as it happens.”

In east Meath there are 16 locations:

• Duleek at the church x 2
•  Lagavoreen at entrance to the estate
• Donore village at the church
•  Ashbourne at Race hill x 2
•  Stamullen on the Bellewstown road outside the housing estate
• Kenstown outside the Londis in the car park
•  Ardcath at the church
•  Ratoath one at St Paul’s School and Ratoath National School Fairyhouse Road
•  Knockcommon (school)
•  Garristown (Snailbox carpark)
• Curragha (church)
• Kilbride Church
• Rossnaree Church

Water stations have been established at six locations across the network in Louth:

• Stameen on the Dublin Road
• Termonabbey
•  Marleys Lane
• Bothar Brugha or Hardmans Gardens
• Ballsgrove shops
• Shop St North Quay

Customers are asked to bring their own containers to avail of the water and are advised that this water must be boiled before consumption as a precaution.

Irish Water has apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused and thanks them for their patience while crews work to repair the burst.

Customers can contact the customer care helpline 24/7 on 1850 278 278 or visit www.water.ie for further updates.

Read: ‘We’re over 36 hours without water’ – Irish Water slammed locally for response to supply crisis in north-east>