Lough Derg water to be piped to Dublin, is it a good thing?

In October of last year Dublin City Council made a presentation to North Tipperary on the water proposed extraction plan from Lough Derg. This €500 million project envisages that a pipeline would be laid from Dublin to Lough Derg and that 350 mega litres of water would be extracted from the lake daily.

Proponents of the plan state that the benefits will far outweigh any of the minor inconveniences created. For example a new 700 acre wetland lake would be created on bog owned by Bord na Mona County Offaly near Portarlington and would act as an 'Eco Park' based on the Rutland model.

This it was claimed would generate one million visitors annually and provide for outdoor activities such angling, boating and birdwatching. The project would also generate up to 1,000 new jobs and most importantly provide 40 per cent of the population with its water needs.

A report commission by DCC states that neither the water temperature or water level will be affected by this proposal. This however has not reassured members of North Tipperary Council who along with Limerick and Clare County councils have request advice from third party professionals on the implications this extraction plan might have.