“LOUGH Derg is not for sale” was the defiant message from Tipperary councillor Phyll Bugler (FG) during a boat rally protest on the Parteen Basin on Saturday last.
Last December, Uisce Éireann applied for planning permission for the largest water project in Irish history.
It proposes constructing a 170 kilometre steel pipeline that will pump drinking water from the River Shannon, at the Parteen Basin below Lough Derg, to the Midlands, Eastern and Greater Dublin area.
The water utility proposes to abstract a maximum of 2% of the average river flow.
The estimated cost of the underground pipe is €4.6 billion, but opponents claim it could potentially cost up to €10 billion.
Plans to abstract 300 million litres of water daily from the River Shannon prompted up to 50 boats to participate in a demonstration at the location of the proposed abstraction pipeline at the Arabs, located just south of Killaloe bridge to oppose Uisce Éireann’s planning application for this project from An Comisiún Pleanála.
River Shannon Protection Alliance Senior Project Manager and environmentalist, Elaine Doyle, said the large attendance sent a strong message to An Coimisiun Pleanala about the importance of retaining this critical natural resource.
Ms Doyle pointed out the lake is already under ecological stress along the lower parts of the River Shannon.
“The 2% average quoted by Uisce Eireann doesn’t equal out over a 12 month period.
According to our engineers, we estimate the abstraction could be as high as 38 to 40% of the water going down the old River Shannon during drought periods.
This could cause major ecological damage to habitats and pollution levels increase,” she said.
Councillor Tony O’Brien (FF) was delighted to get the support of his East Clare colleagues for an objection, which has been included as part of Clare County Council’s submission to the national planning board about the plans.
The Killaloe councillor said groundwater sources or Poulaphouca Reservoir and a proper investment repairing leaks in Dublin haven’t been adequately examined.
“This is taking a water resource from the Mid-West and placing it into another location for economic development at the expense of the devastation it will leave behind.
That is not right,” he say.
“This has gone under the radar.
There isn’t sufficient water in the River Shannon for the proposed abstraction.
“The River Shannon brings employment and investment into the area.
The potential is there to destroy all that, which means young people will not be able to get summer jobs in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets.”
John Barry of Killaloe Ballina Angling Club, who has been fishing on the lake for about 60 years, recalled algae bloom that killed dogs and ducks about 18 years ago.
“If the level of the lake drops during a fine summer, you are left with muck and peat,” he says.
“There is plenty of water in the winter but in the summer it is a different story.
“Tourism is just starting to kick off here. The abstraction is a major concern for anglers.”
Tipperary Council Council Chairman, Councillor John Carroll (FF), said Lough Derg is a “hidden” gem” with great scenery, heritage and tourism facilities.
Describing the water abstraction as “environmental vandalism”, he said that opposition to this plan will have to increase to protect Lough Derg.
Councillor Phyll Bugler it was important for people in Killaloe and Ballina to oppose the abstraction of water from the River Shannon.
“Our public officials don’t fully realise the enormity of the impact of this abstraction.
One hundred years ago we may not have understood what was happening but today the science is beyond dispute,” she says.
“During the drought periods in 2018 there were 75 days of dry weather when the ESB admitted it couldn’t let the statutory 10 cubic metres per second go down the old River Shannon.
“If Uisce Éireann are taking 3.8 cubic metres per second to 4.2 cubic metres per second that is between 38 to 42% of abstraction.
According to studies from Maynooth the Mid-West is getting drier and the East is getting wetter.
“We need to retain our water because abstraction will affect our tourism, fishing, ecology and habitats. It will violate eight EU directives.”
Councillor Bugler proposed that Uisce Eireann should abstract water from Poulaphuca, which has 166 billion litres of water of desalination from Poolbeg or from ten rivers running between Ballsbridge and Arklow.
“We are not Greenland, Lough Derg is not for sale”.
Deputy Alan Kelly called on local Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors to lobby their respective Oireachtas members and party leaders to oppose the water abstraction.
“They should have been doing this two or three years ago. It has gone to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which is an independent body. The Government is supporting this abstraction 100% so it is not an independent process. The Labour Deputy believes it was unfair of the Government to make a decision supporting the abstraction before Uisce Eireann lodged its planning application with An Comisun Pleanála.
“People in Dublin are being let down due to high house prices and lack of infrastructure. They deserve a good quality of life as well but would it not be better to facilitate spatial planning in the Mid-West? The cost of this project will be enormous, no one knows what the final cost will be.
“I don’t know how long this project will take and I am concerned there will be unintended consequences,” he said.
Uisce Éireann outlined the Water Supply Project is a key part of the 25-year national water supply strategy, which has the capacity to address the water supply needs for up to 50% of the population.
The water utility proposes to abstract a maximum of 2% of the long term annual average flow of the River Shannon.
Based on its cost estimate of €4.58 billion, the utility forecasts that the project will deliver in excess of €10 for every €1 of project costs, “representing a very positive investment for the State”.
It noted water levels in Lough Derg and Parteen Basin will remain in the control of the ESB and the abstraction will not affect the normal operating water levels.
“Modelling shows that the abstraction is sustainable and there will not be a visible day to day difference for any water users.
“Extensive hydrological modelling has been undertaken with particular emphasis on drought periods, including an assessment of the peak abstraction in a drought/low flow period.
Assessments confirm there would be no change to the statutory compensation flow of 10m3/s to the Old River Shannon.
“Navigation and beneficial uses focused on tourism will experience the same operating water level range as normal.
“Modelling shows that the abstraction is sustainable and the operation of Lough Derg, post works, will feel and look very similar to the way it currently operates, and there will not be a visible day to day difference for any water users.
“The modelling indicates, even under drought conditions, that the project would have a neutral effect on water quality in Lough Derg and Parteen Basin,” said an Uisce Éireann spokesperson.
The spokesperson confirmed it would continue its engagement with all stakeholders with further informal community engagement clinics and through its Community Liaison Officer.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.