Mixed reaction to Uisce Éireann's Lough Derg Pipe report

THERE has been a mixed reaction to Uisce Éireann's recently published report on its proposed Lough Derg Pipe project.

The semi-state company published a Submissions Report for its Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project, which involves abstracting water from the River Shannon at Parteen Basin, just south of Lough Derg.

The report summarizes the feedback from the public consultation period. The feedback includes comments about the project's benefits, and comments about the possible environmental impacts (particularly on Lough Derg). There were also comments about whether there's a need or not for creating this new water source for the Dublin region. Some submissions suggested it would be preferable to upgrade the existing network in Dublin rather than look to the Shannon for a new water source. Other submissions pointed out alternative options such as desalination.

Uisce Éireann made a number of responses to the submissions. Concerning submissions made about the abstraction point, the semi-state company pointed out that the project will abstract water from the River Shannon at Parteen Basin, which was selected over options at Lough Derg for environmental reasons, specifically to avoid impacting the lake itself.

Among the submissions were concerns about the possible impact of the abstraction on the Shannon's ecology, including potential effects on fish and water quality. Submissions also highlighted potential socio-economic impacts on areas like navigation, angling, and tourism. Uisce Éireann pointed out the project's necessity. The company maintains that the project is necessary to meet future water demand in the Eastern and Midlands region, and cites a growing deficit and a need for supply resilience, in spite of existing leakage control and conservation efforts. The report notes that desalination was considered but the Parteen Basin option was the "preferred option" after an options appraisal.

In a press statement Uisce Éireann pointed out that this will be one of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of the State with a capacity to address water supply needs for up to 50% of the State’s population. “This is a once in a generation project,” the company said, “and is the first major ‘new source’ water infrastructure in the region in the last 60 years. It will deliver a safe, secure, sustainable source of water supply necessary to support our growing population and economy, including the demand for housing. It is also a project that will enable us to adapt to the effects of climate change by diversifying our water supply sources. We received valuable feedback, with over 120 submissions in response to a non-statutory public consultation for the project, which ran for eight weeks in Spring. The Non-Statutory Consultation Submissions Report summarises the views shared, including perspectives on the project’s benefits, infrastructure components, environmental considerations, and construction approach.”

As part of the consultation process, Uisce Éireann hosted six public information open days at key locations along the route in Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare, in addition to online webinars. The consultation provided stakeholders, interested parties, landowners and the public with an opportunity to give feedback on the Proposed Project and, where appropriate, this feedback has been used to inform the design and accompanying environmental reports, in advance of the submission of a planning application to An Coimisiún Pleanála later this year.

The Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region proposes to abstract water from Parteen Basin, upstream of Parteen Weir on the Lower River Shannon, utilising a maximum of 2% of the long term average flow at Parteen Basin. It is proposed that the water will be treated near Birdhill, County Tipperary and treated water will then be piped 170km through counties Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in County Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin Area water distribution network (see map below).

“The project will develop a new, climate-resilient, long-term water source to meet the demands of a growing population and economy,” commented Uisce Éireann, “including the need for housing, as well as enabling us to adapt to the effects of climate change by diversifying our water supply sources. This essential project will provide Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow with a resilient, safe, secure water supply. It will also create a treated water supply ‘spine’ across the country, providing infrastructure with the capacity for future off-takes to serve communities along the route in Tipperary, Offaly, and Westmeath. In addition, it will enable supplies currently serving Dublin to be redirected back to Louth, Meath, Kildare, Carlow and Wicklow, providing security of supply to homes and businesses, which will support growth and regional development.”

Speaking about the Consultation Submissions Report, Senior Programme Manager at Uisce Éireann, Gary Gibson, pointed out that the water supply in the Eastern and Midlands region faces a number of serious challenges, “notably the over-reliance on the River Liffey to supply 1.7 million people in the Greater Dublin Area. With forecasts showing that the region will need 34% more water by 2044 than is available today, this combination of a growing water supply deficit and lack of supply resilience is simply not sustainable. The publication of this submissions report is another major milestone towards the delivery of this essential infrastructure. We would like to thank the stakeholders, landowners and communities who engaged with us during the consultation process; the feedback received has been instrumental in shaping the next phase of the project.”

The public consultation submissions report can be viewed at https://www.water.ie/projects/national-projects/water-supply-project-east-1/publications

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