Campaigners warn River Shannon plan could cut water flow to a trickle in Limerick

CAMPAIGNERS against plans to pump water from the River Shannon to serve Dublin have warned that if this goes ahead, Limerick’s river could dry up at times.

Uisce Eireann, formerly Irish Water have plans to redirect water from the Parteen basin and transfer it through a pipeline to serve the capital.

It says Dublin is facing an acute water shortage.

However, there is opposition in Limerick and the Mid-West, with concerns over the impact it might have on water levels along the River Shannon, and sensitive habitats in what is the longest river in Ireland and Britain.

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The project has gone through route selection.

The public have until February 25 next to have their say on the project, while local authorities are working to a deadline of the end of March.

So far, authorities in Tipperary and Clare have written in opposition.

However, Limerick City and County Council has yet to do so.

The River Shannon Protection Alliance was set up to campaign against the move, and they claim if Uisce Eireann fixed leaks, there would be no need to undertake the project which they say will cost €10bn.

The group claim Limerick’s water supply is also under strain, and its waste water treatment needs an overhaul.

Their senior project manager and environmentalist, Elaine Doyle, fears that if the project gets planning it will cut the water flow to Limerick to a trickle in summer months.

She said the main problem is when water is needed in the Greater Dublin area during summer months, it’s also necessary on the Shannon.

“If droughts are now frequent and severe enough to threaten Dublin’s supply, they are severe enough to threaten the Shannon system when extra water is taken out,” she added.

Ms Doyle said that Limerick is already experiencing low water flows before any water is taken out of Lough Derg.

Kay Mullane, another member of the alliance, said: “We need to attract investment to Limerick and the Mid-West and our ability to do so will be seriously compromised if the pipeline diverts more and more water eastwards.”

The River Shannon and Lough Derg contains a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which is sensitive and dependent on constant levels of water, and can be damaged, sometimes beyond recovery by serious fluctuations in water levels.

“If this happens it will have a serious impact on the wildlife, fish and leisure tourism on the Shannon and Lough Derg,” Ms Mullane said.

She appealed to Limerick council to join other local authorities in the region in objecting to this plan.

The group has gained support from Ireland South MEP Michael McNamara.

“The idea of bringing water and energy to Dublin so we can have more development while Limerick and the Mid-West stagnates doesn’t make a whole pile of sense,” said the former Clare TD.

He said more development is actually bad for the capital due to its own housing shortage.