Old water pipes to be replaced.

Dublin city council is to spend nearly 120million on replacing the Irish capitals network of cast iron pipes in an attempt to stem water loss from leaks. An estimated 28 per cent of Dublins water is lost through leaks in the approximately 2,800 km of city water mains before it ever gets to the householders tap. Forty per cent of the pipes are over 50 years old, including many that are over 100 years old; and these are prone to leakage and plumbo-solvency (the dissolution of lead into the water supply). It is hoped that the upgrade will reduce water loss to 20 per cent.