Local Tipperary district councillors submit their opposition to water supply project

The public consultation for Uisce Éireann’s controversial East Midlands Water Supply Project has officially ended this week.

The project, which will see water treated near Birdhill, county Tipperary and then taken through a large segment of north Tipperary, has seen great oppositions from locals here in Tipperary who fear the project will be detrimental to the local ecology and environment.

This week the councillors from the Nenagh Municipal District have penned their strong opposition to the project in a joint submission to Uisce Éireann.

They write: “We strongly oppose the proposed water supply project, which plans to divert water from the Shannon to Dublin at an estimated cost of up to 10 billion euros. This project is an unsustainable misuse of taxpayer’s money, particularly when the Mid-West region - serving 40% of the country’s population – desperately needs investment in its own water and wastewater infrastructure.

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“The lack of adequate infrastructure in the Nenagh MD area is stifling development, particularly in towns such as Nenagh, Silvermines, Ballycommon, Portroe, and Cloughjordan, where wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are already at or overcapacity. Additionally, outdated infrastructure worsens poor water quality and pollution. Especially in the Nenagh River.

“Instead of prioritising a costly and environmentally damaging pipeline (when Ireland is facing billions of euros of EU fines due to poor river quality) immediate investment should be directed toward improving regional water services.”
Their main reasons for opposition are broken down into several points. In the first they write “Dublin’s water issue. A management problem not a water shortage.

“The argument that Dublin faces a water shortage is fundamentally flawed. The real issue lies in Dublin’s water management system, not a lack of supply. Evidence from the last five years (March 2019 - January 2024) shows that Dublin’s water crises were caused by:

*Burst water pipes (8 incidents)

*Water Treatment plant failures (5)

“A new 170km pipeline from the Shannon will not address these issues. Dublin’s water mains are at crises point and urgently need replacing. Instead of wasting 10 billion euros on an unnecessary pipeline, a large-scale pipe replacement program – covering at least 2% of Dublin’s network - would be a far more effective solution.”

Secondly, they criticise the accuracy of the demand projections: “Uisce Éireann’s demand projections are outdated and unreliable. The Kennedy report has consistently raised valid concerns about leakage rates and demand estimates, and its analysis has yet to be proven wrong. Additionally, the original water demand forecasts were based on pre-Covid populations trends.

“With the rise of hybrid working, Dublin’s long term water needs have changed. Companies such as Microsoft have reported that 30% of their workforce now works remotely, significantly reducing daily water demand in office spaces. Furthermore, Uisce Éireann’s own water capacity reports show that no part of Dublin is expected to face water shortages up to 2030. An effectively managed mains replacement programme would eliminate any justification for the Shannon Pipeline.”
On environmental and ecological concerns, they write “The proposed water abstraction site is within a Natura 2000 area, protected under 2 EU directives.

“The designation confirms that the site is one of the most ecologically sensitive locations in Ireland. Allowing waiter abstraction on this scale would set a dangerous precedent and contradict national and EU environmental protections.

“Uisce Éireann’s claim that only 2% of the current ESB- controlled flow would be diverted is misleading. The ESB itself has struggled with low water levels, leading to a 14-day shutdown in electricity generation in August 2021 due to insufficient water. If the ESB cannot maintain stable water levels for energy production, there is no excess capacity for a project of this magnitude.”

Their final major criticism, the threat to regional inequality and economic impact, reads “This project threatens to further imbalance regional development by diverting a critical natural resource away from the Mid-West.

“Rather than investing in much needed upgrades to local WWTPs and drinking water systems, the Government is prioritising a pipeline that offers no benefit to our region.

“We call on Tipperary, Limerick and Clare County councils to conduct an independent regional water needs analysis before Uisce Eireann submits an application to An Bord Pleanála.”

The Nenagh councillors have given two demands in their letter, the completion of “an independent review of Dublin’s actual water needs and the feasibility of alternative solutions” and a “Development Contribution Levy (Class 18) or an abstraction levy to ensure that, if the project goes ahead against all reasonable objections, Tipperary county council benefits financially and controls the amount of water going out of the region. This levy should mandate a metre at abstraction point, allowing local authorities to monitor water use and direct funds towards regional infrastructure improvements in Tipperary.”

In conclusion, they write “We adamantly oppose the Shannon Pipeline (Eastern and Midlands Water supply project) due to its flawed justification, environmental risks, massive waste of taxpayers’ money, and negative regional impact. There are better, more sustainable alternatives, such as upgrading Dublin’s water infrastructure, that would provide long term solutions. We urge to prioritise a fair and efficient use of Irelands water resources.”

The councillors’ submission makes reference to the Kennedy report, which was completed by Nenagh local, Emma Kennedy, whose background is in carrying out forensic analysis of companies and projects in her work as corporate lawyer.

Ms Kennedy first heard about the Shannon Project because the proposed pipeline crosses her husband’s family farm. Despite concerns that her involvement in challenging the project might prove detrimental to them personally regarding the way that the proposed pipeline will impact their farm, she has pursued this matter out of principle.
Kennedy Analysis has also made their own submission objecting the project during this consultation period. In it they write

“Over the past decade Kennedy Analysis has flagged countless errors in the assessment of this project which Irish Water has failed to address.

“Several submissions made by Kennedy Analysis over the past decade have been disregarded in their entirety with no attempt to address any of the issues raised within them.

“Our 14 March 2022 submission was extensive and highly detailed, yet many of the concerns raised were not addressed in Irish Water’s response. If in ten years time, it emerges that the concerns of Kennedy Analysis were well-placed, and that the proposed pipeline was not the appropriate solution to address Dublin’s very serious water supply problems, which individuals will be taking personal responsibility for the waste of billions of Euros of taxpayers money?”

With the consultation period now closed, the project will proceed to planning stage where An Bord Pleanála will review Uisce Éireann’s Strategic Infrastructure Development application.

This will include references to the submissions made by members of the public during the consultation period. Subject to planning approval, Uisce Éireann have estimated that the project will take 4-5 years to complete.