Currently, the average daily water requirement for the 1.5 million people living in the Dublin Region (Water Supply Area), is 550 million litres. However it is estimated that this demand will increase to approximately 800 million litres by 2031 for an estimated 2.2 million people.
Consequently, in conjunction with maximising supplies from existing sources and optimising water savings through leakage management and conservation activities, an alternative supply will be needed by around 2016 to meet this increased demand.
In 2005, consultants were appointed by Dublin City Council to examine a range of options for a new water supply source for the Dublin Region.
Current legislation required Dublin City Council, as lead authority, to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of these options. Phase 1, which evaluated 3 options, was initiated in 2006. There was a high level of public interest and extensive feedback was received following which the number of options was increased to the following 10:
A. Abstraction from Lough Ree
B. Abstraction from Lough Derg
C. Abstraction from Parteen Basin (near Weir)
D. Abstractions Lough Ree Phase 1 and Lough Derg Phase 2.
E. Lough Ree and Storage (Use of midland storage to enable excess winter water to be stored for later use in drier summer periods)
F. Lough Derg and Storage in former (cutaway) bog(s) to enable excess winter water to be stored for later use in drier summer periods)
G. Impoundment: Abstraction from Lough Ree (or Lough Derg) in high flow periods. Raw water to be impounded in dams/valleys in Dublin/Wicklow mountains.
H. Construction of a desalination plant (in North-East Fingal) and a pipeline to take the desalinated water to the Dublin Region at Ballycoolen Reservoir.
I. Groundwater Sources: This water supply option looks at the potential for the development of strategic groundwater supply.
J. The Liffey-Barrow “conjunctive use” option envisages abstractions of water from the Barrow when sustainable quantities may be available and combining these abstractions with abstractions from Poulaphuca.
The extended range of water supply options identified during Phase 1 of the 2006 SEA, are currently being investigated as part of Phase 2.
Each option is being examined from technical, economic, socio-economic and environmental perspectives at a strategic level. The options have now been tabled for public consultation as part of SEA Phase 2 that began on 22nd.November 2008 and will continue for the next 3 months until the closing date for submissions at noon on 27th.February 2009.
Following consideration of feedback, the 10 options will be shortlisted. More detailed work will then be carried out on the shortlisted options. A preferred option will then be selected and will in time be brought forward into the statutory planning process to be overseen by An Bord Pleanála.
Following the SEA process an SEA Statement will be published that will
• Outline the reasons for selection of the preferred option;
• Outline how environmental considerations were taken into account in selection;
• Specify any monitoring measures to be implemented.
The statutory planning process, anticipated to commence in 2010, will involve the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This is a more detailed study into the effects on the environment of the proposed development . The EIA process also involves formal public consultation.
Consultation will also be supplemented with regular newsletters and via the project website: www.watersupplyproject-dublinregion.ie . This website contains all the necessary documentation in relation to the scoping and consultation phase of SEA Phase 2.