Work Continues To Upgrade Water Supply In Cork

Work is continuing to improve the water supply in Schull, Cork.

Irish Water, working in partnership with Cork County Council, is delivering major upgrades as part of the Skibbereen Regional Water Supply Scheme. Upgrades are ongoing and include the construction of over 10km of trunk main connecting Schull to the Skibbereen Water Supply Scheme, a new treated water storage reservoir in Schull and decommissioning of the old water treatment plant in Skeagh, near Schull.

The project is part of a multi-million-euro investment by Irish Water to upgrade the water supply to over 7,000 people in Skibbereen, Drimoleague, Castledonovan, Schull, Leap, Bluid and Sherkin Island. Once completed, the project will provide a reliable water supply to these parts of West Cork.


The Skibbereen Regional Water Supply Scheme will replace local water supplies that are nearing the end of their lifespan with a new water supply scheme, which will include treatment plants, new pipelines and storage, providing the communities in these areas with a secure, safe and robust water supply for the future.

Currently, the Schull water supply area is vulnerable to outages if there is a burst in the pipe network, or if there are issues at the treatment plant. There is no provision for storage of treated water on Sherkin Island, so the supply there is also vulnerable to outages. Sections of the existing pipeline in Drimoleague, Castledonovan, Schull, Leap and Bluid have also reached the end of their expected lifespan and require replacement.

The project commenced in 2019 and includes 35km of new watermains, upgrades to Ballyhilty and Lake Cross water treatment plants and new reservoirs at Drimoleague, Schull, Leap and Sherkin Island. All of these works being delivered by EPS Group Ltd. and will provide a much improved water supply to over 7,000 people in the area. The project will result in the removal of the Schull and Leap water supply schemes from the EPA’s Remedial Action List (RAL) and ensure compliance of the new Skibbereen Regional Water Supply Scheme with current drinking water regulations. Irish Water is investing €28 million in the project.