21/04/2026
Water loss remains one of the most overlooked sustainability challenges in Ireland. An estimated 36-38% of treated drinking water is lost through leaks before it ever reaches taps, largely due to an ageing and deteriorating pipe network. As Ireland sharpens its focus on water efficiency and climate resilience, the renovation and effective waterproofing of infrastructure present a significant opportunity for meaningful, long‑term impact.
Upgrading aging water infrastructure is a practical, high‑impact sustainability measure. It helps reduce water loss, lowers the energy and chemicals required for treatment, and supports safer, more reliable systems. At the same time, these improvements assist local authorities and operators in aligning with European environmental and resource‑efficiency regulations.
Investing in resilient, well‑maintained infrastructure is not only about protecting water resources today - it is a critical step toward securing them for the future.
Waterproofing and Repair: Key to Reducing Water Loss
Underinvestment in maintenance has led to aging and deteriorating infrastructure. Proper waterproofing and structural repair of water storage facilities are therefore high-impact interventions. Sealing cracks and preventing seepage that allows treated water to escape, will ultimately improve system efficiency and reducing distribution losses.
Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Water Services
Every litre of water saved also avoids the energy and chemicals required for treatment and pumping, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of water services. At scale, these savings make a meaningful contribution to objectives on water efficiency and environmental impact reduction.
Lowering Environmental Impacts by Extending Asset Lifespan
Refurbishment also plays a key role in reducing the environmental impact associated with demolition and reconstruction of concrete infrastructure. Extending the service life of existing structures avoids the large amounts of raw materials, energy, and emissions linked to producing new concrete and managing demolition waste, contributing to more sustainable construction practices.
Sustainable Waterproofing Mortars: Sikalastic®-6100 FX
As part of Sika’s portfolio of sustainable solutions, Sikalastic®-6100 FX delivers multiple benefits that reduce the environmental impact of the waterproofing works.
Its key advantage lies in its lightweight formulation combined with excellent waterproofing performance. Thanks to its lightweight composition only 1.85–1.9 kg of powder per square meter are required to apply the 2 mm thickness required for 5 bar water pressure resistance. This is significantly less than conventional waterproofing mortars.
This reduced consumption translates directly into both environmental and economic savings. In simple terms: less material, less transport, and lower overall impact. Compared to traditional waterproofing mortars, Sikalastic®-6100 FX can cover up to 85% more surface area with the same amount of material, resulting in approximately 50% less product needed to be manufactured, handled, transported, and applied.
In specific terms, this leads to:
All of these sustainability advantages are achieved while maintaining performance at the level of top-tier products, particularly in terms of crack-bridging ability, durability, and concrete protection.
Reducing the environmental impact of construction requires a combination of strategies. Selecting products with sustainable benefits such as reducing energy and water consumption, minimising waste generation, and ensuring long service life, is essential. Applying these solutions in renovation projects that extend the lifespan of existing structures and minimise water losses is an effective way to maximise the value of advanced technologies.
