Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region

This project has the capacity to deliver secure, sustainable water supplies for up to 2.5 million people across the country.

Project overview

Our purpose is to deliver transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. For the Eastern and Midlands Region, rising to this challenge requires a new water source.

Today, we have just one source to supply 85% of the water for the Greater Dublin Area – the River Liffey. This dependence on the Liffey (and the two main treatment plants of Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip) results in a serious vulnerability to risks such as prolonged drought and/or contamination. Furthermore, economic growth, population growth including the demand for housing and the impact of climate change means our forecasts show that the region will need 34% more water by 2044 than is available today. This combination of a growing water supply deficit and lack of supply resilience is not sustainable-we need a new source of water.

The solution is the Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region. A critical national infrastructure project, it will support water supply needs for up to 50% of our population. It will bring treated water from the Parteen Basin to Peaumont in Dublin with the capacity for offtakes along the route in Tipperary, Offaly and Westmeath. It will also enable supplies serving Dublin to be redirected back locally in Carlow, Wicklow, Meath and Louth.

Location
Eastern and Midlands Region
Status
Pre-Planning
Type
Water

Water Supply Project in 2025

To find out more, click below for a short 3 minute video.

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Why do we need the Water Supply Project?

Securing a water supply for up to half of Ireland's population

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The River Liffey supplies 85% of the water requirements for 1.7 million people in Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.

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By depending on one source, there is no alternative if there is a contamination or weather event.

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Population growth, economic growth and climate change means 34% more water will be needed by 2044.

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Leakage reduction is part of the solution. We have a target of reducing leakage in the Greater Dublin Area to below 20% by 2030 but we still need a new source.

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A new source is needed to avoid restrictions and large-scale water outages. It will support economic growth and housing in the region.

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This new source will provide resilience in the water system and help us to meet the challenge of climate change.

WSP Map

Eastern and Midlands regional in depth Water Supply Project Map

The Project

The proposed Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region will abstract a maximum of 2% of the average flow of the River Shannon at Parteen Basin. The project is in line with the National Water Resources Plan (Framework Plan) and the Regional Water Resources Plan for the Eastern and Midlands Region.

  • Abstract water from the lower River Shannon at Parteen Basin in Co. Tipperary, downstream of Lough Derg
  • Treat the abstracted water at Birdhill, Co. Tipperary
  • Pipe the treated water 170km through Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in County Dublin
  • Connect into the Greater Dublin Area water supply network, with capacity to provide water to communities along the route.

 

Securing a water supply for half of Ireland's population to 2050 and beyond

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A new secure, resilient water supply for the Greater Dublin Area will support population growth, economic growth and housing.

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The first ever water spine across Ireland, it will have capacity to supply communities along the route in Tipperary, Offaly and Westmeath.

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A new source means we can redirect water currently serving Dublin back to communities in Louth, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and Carlow.

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The Water Supply Project enables resilience through climate adaption with more sustainable water supplies.

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It will improve water services for local communities, addressing needs across 36 water resource zones.

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The new source reduces dependence on the Liffey, better protecting us from drought and climate change.

Next Steps

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The Water Supply Project has approval in principle under the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.

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It will now proceed to planning. Uisce Eireann will submit a Strategic Infrastructure Development application to An Bord Pleanála.

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Subject to planning approval, construction will take 4-5 years.

Contact us

Get in touch with us if you have questions about the Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region. Call us on 01 2027770 or email us at watersupply@water.ie