Dublin City Council are not expected to make a final decision on proposals to extract water from the River Shannon until the latter part of 2009.
The latest update on the studies being carried out on the Dublin region’s long term water supply requirements revealed that several options are still being explored by Dublin City Council and will be for some time.
A statement received this week read that “Ten water supply options are being studied which include Lough Ree, Lough Derg, and Parteen Basin on the Shannon River system. Options involving storage of excess winter water for subsequent use in drier periods are being investigated for Lough Ree and Lough Derg. In addition to the Shannon based options, the studies are also investigating desalination and groundwater options”.
It was also stated that a statutory process, called Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA ), is currently underway in relation to the water supply plan. This process requires public consultation which is due to commence in autumn 2008 and will take approximately three months to complete.
Following feedback from the public consultation process the 10 options will be ranked and shortlisted and further detailed work will be undertaken before being submitted to Dublin City Council for their consideration.
Meanwhile, Longford/Westmeath TD and Fine Gael spokesperson on Heritage, James Bannon, has expressed his concern at Dublin City Council’s plans to draw a water supply for the capital from the River Shannon.
He called on Dublin City Council to first work on conserving its existing water supply, by repairing broken and leaky pipes.
It was revealed last week that such extraction of water from the River Shannon, which is already experiencing low levels (two feet below the norm ), could mean the destruction of a fragile ecology and cost the tourism sector millions.
“We’re facing a situation in which Dublin is running out of water and its reservoir at Vartry in the Wicklow Mountains is failing to meet its requirements, and Dublin City Council is turning its gaze towards Lough Ree and Lough Derg to solve its problems.
“In the short term, Dublin City Council should prioritise the repair of broken and leaky pipes before turning to the Shannon Region,” said Deputy Bannon.
He continued to say that Dublin City Council should not be permitted to ruin the River Shannon as it is “one of the country’s greatest natural resources”. He added that a move like this is just a “short term solution to a problem of its [Dublin City Council’s] own making”.
“I will work relentlessly to protect the Midland’s greatest heritage and tourism site and ensure it is not destroyed. Low water levels would decimate the boating and fishing industries and upset the natural environment in the Shannon region,” concluded Deputy Bannon.
