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29/10/2008
Dublin Running Dry
The Irish capital is 'running dry' and will require a new source of fresh water within seven years to accommodate its fast-growing population.
It has now emerged that the vast River Shannon may be one of the answers to the shortage of H2O - although residents of the area are far from happy about proposals to take water from the Shannon when the river is in flood - and pipe it to a large reservoir in the midlands.
Dublin City Council's water engineers believe that the capital will require such a new source by 2015 to cater for its growing population.
However, objectors from the Shannon catchment area marched to Leinster House to protest against the original proposals by Dublin City Council to abstract 350 million litres of water a day from the river's two largest lakes to serve consumers in the capital.
The alliance is adamant that the plan to take it from the Shannon would be an "ecological disaster".
Instead, the possibility of taking water from Lough Ree and Lough Derg in winter and storing it in a reservoir on cutaway bog near Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath, from where it would be piped to Dublin, is being considered.
This may eventually be the 'preferred option' in a study - due to be completed before the end of 2009 - which would help address the protestors' fears as this plan would overcome fears that the Shannon lakes would be 'drained' if the water was simply piped to Dublin directly.
Domestic water use in Ireland, at 160 litres per capita a day is among the highest in Europe and economists have attributed this to the absence of tariffs based on consumption.
Water charges were abolished in 1997 but the huge capital cost of providing a new supply for Dublin at a time of severe budgetary constraints will pose problems for the Government - who may have to look again at water charges.
(BMcC)
It has now emerged that the vast River Shannon may be one of the answers to the shortage of H2O - although residents of the area are far from happy about proposals to take water from the Shannon when the river is in flood - and pipe it to a large reservoir in the midlands.
Dublin City Council's water engineers believe that the capital will require such a new source by 2015 to cater for its growing population.
However, objectors from the Shannon catchment area marched to Leinster House to protest against the original proposals by Dublin City Council to abstract 350 million litres of water a day from the river's two largest lakes to serve consumers in the capital.
The alliance is adamant that the plan to take it from the Shannon would be an "ecological disaster".
Instead, the possibility of taking water from Lough Ree and Lough Derg in winter and storing it in a reservoir on cutaway bog near Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath, from where it would be piped to Dublin, is being considered.
This may eventually be the 'preferred option' in a study - due to be completed before the end of 2009 - which would help address the protestors' fears as this plan would overcome fears that the Shannon lakes would be 'drained' if the water was simply piped to Dublin directly.
Domestic water use in Ireland, at 160 litres per capita a day is among the highest in Europe and economists have attributed this to the absence of tariffs based on consumption.
Water charges were abolished in 1997 but the huge capital cost of providing a new supply for Dublin at a time of severe budgetary constraints will pose problems for the Government - who may have to look again at water charges.
(BMcC)
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The development of a major reservoir and waterway, fed by the River Shannon, (see: Shannon To Be Harnessed For Water Supply) has not been universally welcomed. There have been calls for an examination of the potential environmental and economic consequences of Dublin City Council's plans to draw water supplies from the River Shannon from 2016.
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'Don't Steal Our Shannon Water' Says Limerick
There have been calls for an examination of the environmental and economic consequences of Dublin City Council's plans to draw water supplies from the River Shannon. The development of a major reservoir and waterway, fed by the River Shannon, (see: Shannon To Be Harnessed For Water Supply) has not been universally welcomed.
'Don't Steal Our Shannon Water' Says Limerick
There have been calls for an examination of the environmental and economic consequences of Dublin City Council's plans to draw water supplies from the River Shannon. The development of a major reservoir and waterway, fed by the River Shannon, (see: Shannon To Be Harnessed For Water Supply) has not been universally welcomed.
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Ireland WeatherToday:A mostly cloudy start with scattered showers, the showers becoming more isolated and largely confined to the south this morning. Becoming brighter this afternoon, the best of any sunnier spells across northern counties. Northerly winds easing. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
