Frequently Asked Questions from Phase 1 and 2 of public consultation

Introduction to the Frequently Asked Questions Section

Since the New Source studies began in 2005, there have been many questions raised in relation to the various water supply options being considered as possible solutions for meeting the Dublin Region’s future water supply requirements.

Future water supply plans for the Dublin Region (and potential water supply options) were considered within the framework of a legal planning process called Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) which became an Irish statutory requirement for projects of this nature in July 2004. The SEA process has a requirement for public consultation.

Queries from stakeholders and the media, raised during the first and second phase of SEA public consultation, in 2006 and 2008/9, have been collated and are presented here.

Following on from 'Phase 1 Consultation', in 2006, a wider range of water supply options were included in the studies and these have been presented to stakeholders over various periods during 2007 and 2008. The second phase of SEA public consultation commenced in Sept / Oct 2008. The draft Plan, and Environmental Report which have been prepared as part of this SEA Phase 2 public consultation process contain most of the answers to queries raised. This document should be read in conjunction with these reports which are available on the website www.watersupplyproject-dublinregion.ie/publications

The queries that came in under the first and second phase of consultation can be divided into a number of distinct categories:

Frequently Asked Questions That were Received During the 1st and 2nd Phase of Public Consulation (please note these will be updated in due course).

Click on the question to be brought to the response.

  1. Will abstraction of water from the Shannon adversely impact Angling, Navigation, Tourism, Agriculture and the Local Economy?
  2. Will abstraction of water from the Shannon adversely impact the Aquatic and associated Terrestrial Ecology of the Shannon Catchment? Have the following issues been considered?:
    • Water Framework Directive Considerations
    • Water Quality
    • Fisheries
    • Zebra Mussels
  3. Will abstraction from L Ree or L Derg result in increased water residence times during dry periods in L Derg, and could this adversely affect water quality?
  4. Will water abstractions from the Shannon for supplying Dublin adversely affect the availability of water for Shannon catchment users?
  5. Is an integrated abstraction plan required to demonstrate the cumulative effects of existing and proposed abstractions within the catchment and also those abstractions leaving the catchment?
  6. Levels in the river and lakes are going down every year - will climate change make this worse?
  7. If water is abstracted from the Shannon catchment for Dublin will it be lost to the Shannon catchment forever?
  8. Will water abstractions for Dublin place any restrictions on Shannon catchment users upstream or downstream?
  9. Can Dublin's drainage and sewerage system cope with the projected increased water discharges which will arise from increased population and associated development?
  10. Will continuous abstraction of water (for Dublin) from Shannon lakes eventually result in the lakes disappearing?
  11. What’s in all this for Shannon Catchment Residents? How will they benefit?
  12. Water for Dublin is in effect an economic transfer from the Shannon Basin to Dublin - will compensation be paid for water transferred?
  13. Is water privatisation being planned particularly as Veolia are part of the study team?
  14. Dependence by Dublin on a single large source could lead to abuse at times when abstraction from the Shannon might environmentally or otherwise inappropriate. Is there going to be a management plan in place for operating the scheme?
  15. Who is going to make sure checks and balances are in place?
  16. Why is there no national strategy for water development as there is for example in the development of roads or energy infrastructure?
  17. What is the legislative process for getting this scheme approved?
  18. What is Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)?
  19. Is Dublin doing enough to conserve water? What about these conservation initiatives?;
    • Leakage
    • Network Repair & Rehabilitation
    • Rainwater Harvesting
    • Grey water Reuse
    • Metering
  20. Is there a role for Desalination in meeting Dublin's future water supply needs?
  21. Desalination is being developed in London, so why not here?
  22. Why can't renewable energy sources be used to supply energy for desalination?
  23. a) Is there a major aquifer (underground water storage area) in the Fingal area of Dublin which is not being used and which could be developed to supply Dublin's future water needs? b) Is the proposed Fingal landfill (refuse) site being located on top of the aquifer and will it contaminate water in the aquifer if built?
  24. Who decides which water supply option is selected?
  25. Will the decision be made on the basis of cost and economics?
  26. What is the relationship between this proposal and the RBD projects which were set up to implement the Water Framework Directive (WFD)?
  27. There should be encouragement to develop growth areas around the country and limit the growth in Dublin. Would this reduce demand for water and as a result the need for this project?
  28. What say will Local Authorities have on the plan?
  29. Was there any consideration given to sourcing new supplies in the North of Ireland?
  30. Surface water in Dublin is a huge resource which should be explored. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) have been introduced to deal with the increases in hard standing areas as a result of development. Why can't water be gathered in this manner for treatment and use as drinking water?
  31. What is the Dublin Region (Water Supply Area)? What's driving the demand for water?
  32. Where does Dublin get it's water from currently?
  33. Has Dublin City Council ever done anything similar to the current Shannon water abstraction proposals before?
  34. Is the project to bring water to Dublin being progressed "at high speed" on account of the impending need for new supplies by approximately 2016?