A long term additional secure and sustainable water source for Dublin

The need for a long term additional secure and sustainable water source for Dublin was identified as far back as 1996 and is now a priority for Irish Water to deliver. Irish Water has taken over the management of the project and the resources are being put in place to deliver the project by 2020.

As part of this management, Irish Water is currently engaged in a statutory process which involves an environmental impact assessment which must evaluate all potential solutions objectively on the basis of environmental, technical and economic criteria. The final outcome of that assessment will be delivered later this year as a preferred scheme, which will be developed further with a view to going to An Bord Pleanála before the end of 2015.

The procurement process announced last Friday, 14th February is only one element of the environmental impact assessment.

The envisaged project timetable is as follows:

• Planning Stage: requires a full review of all options, preferred option selection, full environmental impact assessment and preparation of documentation to cover abstraction, treatment, transmission and storage, sites and wayleaves and all other permits. This process will take 2 years in preparation, including public consultation, and 1 year allowed for An Bord Pleanala consideration, including oral hearing and decision
• Design & Procurement: will take an estimated 2 years from approval of Planning. This stage will require detailed design, tender processes, funding agreement, all funding and budget approvals and contract signing
• Construction: is estimated to take approximately 3 years to commissioning the new supplies and connection to the networks.