This weekend saw the first of a series of articles on the Irish water supply and the challenges facing it, in the Irish Times, called: Down the Drain: What’s going wrong with Ireland’s water supply?
Including an interview with Environment minister, Phil Hogan, it highlights several key issues going forward:
- a water authority to be set up
- household water metering programme beginning 2014
- perhaps first 40–60 litres per day free
- household water charges of up to €400 per annum (based on UK charges)
- 40% of all water produced is lost to leaks, etc.
- €600m per year needed to meet EU Water Framework Directive, even before tackling issues of leaks
- water will remain a public utility but will require private investment
- minister sees focus on water conservation as water the most urgent infrastructure/resource issue facing Ireland and globe
- by 2050, many nations will not have sufficient water supply to support industry
- industry will migrate to countries which can offer adequate water supply — an economic challenge and opportunity for Ireland
- article discusses controversial plan to pump water from Shannon to supply Dublin region
Read more: Down the Drain: What’s going wrong with Ireland’s water supply?
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