Call to review Shannon water pipe project

A BODY campaigning to prevent the abstraction of water from the River Shannon, piping it through large tracts of north Tipperary farmland to Dublin, has called on the Government to conduct an independent review of the planned controversial project.

The River Shannon Protection Alliance (RSPA)has warned that water levels in Lough Derg - the lake on the river just above the proposed abstraction point near Birdhill - will run dangerously low in summer if the multi-million euro plan goes ahead.

It also claims that a large range of species and plants currently benefiting from EU environmental protection laws in the lake and along the Shannon will be negatively impacted if the plan to take in excess of 330 million litres of water from the river daily is allowed to proceed.

Calling on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’ Brien to review the €1.65 billion plan, the RSPA states: “The project is unnecessary and a total waste of taxpayers’ money. The proposal is defective technically, deficient in terms of its objectives and destructive to the Mid-West region environmentally, economically, and socially.”

The plan is being promoted by Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water), which wants to pipe the water a distance of 172 kilometres from Parteen Basin to bolster supplies in Dublin and the greater eastern and midland areas.

Citing the claim by Uisce Éireann that supply levels in Dublin are running critically low, RSPA counters that there are sufficient supplies in the city. “Dublin is awash with water, but because of its leaking pipe system approximately 50 per cent of it is leaking in to the ground. There are many sources of water in Dublin, that have not been given due consideration or output maximised.”

CONCERNS

The RSPA says it fears the impact the project would have on Lough Derg. “There are very serious concerns the effect of the abstraction will have on Lough Derg during dry spells in summer” when the lake was at its most vulnerable.

“The river contains a number of Special Areas of Conservation (SPAS) and Special Protection Areas of Conservation (SACS) and supports the sustainability of countless forms of life. All of these are fragile and dependent on constant levels of water, and sometimes can be damaged beyond recovery.”

The RSPA points out that the River Shannon was one of the Mid-West’s greatest assets, supporting and facilitate industrial enterprises, shipping, boating, tourism, sporting activities and much more. “If we allow [the project] to proceed, Lough Derg will be plundered, and there will be no way back. We have a duty to protect it for future generations.”

It said the “mega scheme” was designed to enable Dublin and its east coast satellite counties to continue to attract the lion’s share of foreign direct investment. “The Mid-West and the Shannon Catchment area also need to attract foreign direct investment. Its ability to do so will be seriously compromised as the pipeline diverts more and more water eastwards over time.”

The RSPA says that to use the waters of the Shannon to grow enterprise locally could be considered as an alternative strategy. “Why not bring the industry to water, rather bring the water from afar to industry?” it asks.

‘SCAREMONGERING’

It accuses Uisce Éireann of using scaremongering tactics by claiming it may have to refuse new water connection requests in Dublin unless the ‘go ahead’ is given to the Shannon project.

“They want the water from Lough Derg to attract more foreign direct investment to Dublin, which is already bursting at the seams. The IDA also need to be reminded that there is business to be conducted outside of Dublin.  An over-sized capital is not in the interest of the country.  Government policy to grow the regional cities is not working, and national infrastructure projects like the Shannon pipeline should not fuel the further growth of Dublin.”

A decision on whether the Shannon pipeline should proceed to planning permission stage is expected in the current year.

The group has called on voters to highlight the issue with candidates in the run-up to the Local and European elections in June.

Its view is that the scheme is a blatant misuse of taxpayers’ money and will have negative impacts on the environment of Lough Derg and the Shannon.

The group says better use of existing water resources in the Dublin catchment area should be explored instead of piping the water from Parteen to the capital.