Farmers, fishermen, business and tourism interests are right to be concerned over plans by Irish Water to abstract water at Parteen Weir for use in the Greater Dublin region. Local farmers are opposed to the construction of a pipeline because of possible disruption and damage while business and tourism interests are worried that reduced water levels on the Shannon will hurt their businesses. Reassurance is required that Irish Water will remain a public utility while eco-friendly policies should prevail over State agency rivalries.
It is now 20 years since the Department of the Environment warned that seven local authorities in the Dublin region faced water shortages and identified the Shannon as a likely source. The situation continued to deteriorate because of inadequate investment and growing demand. In an effort to stabilise the situation, Irish Water has begun to invest in water treatment plants. But with demand expected to rise by a further 300 million litres a day by 2050, an additional water source is urgently required.
Competition between Bord na Mona and Bord Gais for the State contract to operate Irish Water generated intense rivalry. Both bodies chose the Shannon as their preferred source but Bord na Mona proposed to construct a huge winter water reservoir on bogland at Garryhinch, Co Offaly, to be used in summer as a holiday/leisure facility. Bord Gais won the contract and its subsidiary, Irish Water, found reasons to dismiss the Garryhinch idea in favour of a direct pipeline from Parteen Weir.
On average, the ESB uses 94 per cent of available water at Parteen Weir for electricity generation. Irish Water will get less than three per cent of that. But what happens in an extreme drought situation? Will water or electricity supplies be disrupted? Given the ESB's dreadful record in protecting fish stocks on the Shannon, few would rely on its environmental assurances. Taking a long-term precautionary view, the construction of a reservoir and the use of winter floodwater make good sense.