Galway faces severe water shortages into the future not only from the effects of climate change, but also due to bad planning decisions.
This is the view of An Taisce’s Derrick Hambleton, who is calling for a “serious local debate” on the city’s water supply.
Mr Hambleton’s call follows a statement by Independent Galway West TD Noel Grealish who highlighted “the incongruity of proposals” to build a solid waste treatment plant, to treat solids emanating from sewage treatment plants all round the county - as well as from Mutton Island - next door to one of the sites chosen to build a new water treatment plant for Galway.
This particular site is itself to be built close to an IDA development site that was projected to house a high value bio technology business, in Oranmore.
“Has anybody calculated the impact on our water supply and waste water treatment facilities, of building housing to cater for 18,000 new residents at this location, and any other significant expansions planned for the city?” Mr Hambleton asked. “Has nobody involved in planning for Galway heard of projected water shortages?”
Given the experiences of many people over December - loss of water pressure, no water supply, leaking mains pipes, he is calling on councillors to address the city’s pipe infrastructure through the Galway City Development Plan - which must be completed by January 28.
A recent statement from the Department of the Environment said that local authorities around the State, including the Galway City Council, were continuing “to make significant and progressive improvements in the water supply situation around the country”.
It added that “some short term disruption to supply” in some areas will remain “while leaks are being repaired and in pockets affected by low pressure mostly at the end of supply networks”.
However Mr Hambleton said that despite more than €40 million being spent on installing ultra modern UV treatment technology as part of the upgrade of treatment facilities at the new Terryland water treatment plant, some 50 per cent of treated water, he alleges, is still lost via leakage into the ground.
Mr Hambleton warned that Galway should not think it will always have Lough Corrib to rely on. “We will not have the lough to rely on if we keep pouring untreated sewage waste and other polluting materials into it,” he said.
Mr Hambleton pointed out that while the council is looking for extra funding to upgrade and modernise the pipe system, the Government is unlikely to have such money to give due to the current state of the economy.
