“This could be an ecological disaster” - local outrage over water pipeline plans

Despite plans for the delivery of the Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region, steadily progressing, local councillors in Nenagh have recently spoken out on the potential damage it could cause to the local ecology in Tipperary. The project, which has now received Cabinet approval in principle under the Infrastructure Guidelines, can now proceed to planning. It will be one of the largest and most important infrastructure projects in the history of the State with current preliminary project cost estimate of €4.58 billion to €5.96 billion.

The aim of the project is to create a water spine across the country and ensure an urban level of service to towns and regions from Tipperary to Dublin and Carlow to Drogheda. The project proposes to abstract a maximum of 2% of the average flow of the River Shannon at Parteen Basin downstream of Lough Derg. 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 network.

Locally, the plans have been met with significant outrage and controversy.

In a letter to Government since made public, Cllr Seamus Morris wrote, “ I am flabbergasted that the Government gave the go-ahead to go to ABP for the now 6 Billion Euro ( up from 700 million) Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project.
“This project can potentially make the National Children’s Hospital look like value for money.

“The other galling thing is that only 250 million a year has been put aside for fixing leaks which are the worst leakage rates in the developed world.

“Tipperary residents have to put up with appalling deficiencies in Water and Wastewater services and we even have to put up with the most dangerous levels of THMs in our water in the country with Portroe, Cloughjordan Silvermines and Gortagarry to worst affected areas in North Tipperary.

“Silvermines and Cloughjordan have no capacity at all in their WWTP and no works planned at this time so much-needed house building is out in those areas.”

Cllr Ryan O'Meara and Cllr Phyll Bugler joined Cllr Morris in expressing their concern for the plans effects on their local areas.

Cllr Bugler said, “I have lived in Ballina for the past 30 years now and I know how much the town relies on the lake and the river to support the local economy.

“So much of the money in the town comes from fishing and tourism and the threat of damage to the local waters could be extremely detrimental to the town.

“It’s extremely important that we protect the waters for the next generation.”

Uisce Éireann has recently confirmed that roughly 500 landowners will be impacted by the proposed pipeline.

A new water treatment plant is set to be built on 12ha at Birdhill to direct the water through.