Dublin wants its water stored at Rochfortbridge

The possibility of storing water from the Shannon at a bog between Rochfortbridge and Rhode to supply the Dublin area is being examined, it emerged last week.A consultant engaged by Dublin City Council, Gerry Geoghegan, gave a presentation to members of Offaly County Council at a meeting last week and explained that one option being examined would involve pumping water from the Shannon through Offaly to be stored in a 300-acre artificial lake on Derrygreenagh Bog, between Rochfortbridge and Rhode.Mr Geoghegan, a representative of RPS, told the councillors that treated water would be made available to both Westmeath and Offaly if the proposal to pipe water from the Shannon to the capital came to fruition.A treatment works would be located in Derrygreenagh Bog and the water would be piped from there to serve the Greater Dublin Area, while some of it would be retained for use in the midlands counties. This is one of ten options currently being considered to solve the capital"s water shortage problems.The storage option is a strong contender as it would allow the storage of excess winter water for use durind the summer months.Mr Geoghegan told the meeting that the Shannon source had to be considered because Dublin currently relied on the River Liffey for 85% of its water and demand could exceed supply as early as 2016. He said Dublin"s population coud increase from the current level of 1.5m people to 2.2m by 2031.By 2031, the Greater Dublin Area could require 800 megalitres a day (one megalitre would fill one Olympic size swimming pool) and unless extra water was found, the shortfally in 2031 would be 170 megalitres a day.This storage option would involve water being piped from either Lough Ree or Lough Derg and a double pipeline then bringing water from the storage area in Derrygreenagh to Saggart in Dublin.Mr Geoghegan told last week"s meeting that talks had already takin place with Bord na Móna and there was potential for the development of a bogland amenity at Derrygreenagh similar to Boora.Questioned about the impact of the water abstraction on the Shannon, Mr Geoghegan sail only between two cubic metres and four cubic metres per second would be taken, while ESB takes between 200 and 400 metres per second for the power station at Ardnacrusha.The "preferred option" for the supply of water to the Greater Dublin Area is not expected to be selected until late next year and at that stage a formal planning application will be made.