eastern and midlands region final options appraisal report ... · eastern and midlands region final...

Water Supply ProjectEastern and Midlands Region

Final Options Appraisal Report (FOAR)Non Technical Summary

(FOAR)Non Technical Summary November 2016

ContentsBackground 1

AssessingPotentialSources 2

MovingfromTwoAlternativeOptionstoOnePreferredOption 3

ParteenBasin–ThePreferredOption 4

CommunityGain 6

Theimportanceofaction 7

MovingtoaPlanningApplication 8

1 | Irish WaterFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR)-NonTechnicalSummary

BackgroundTheWaterSupplyProject–EasternandMidlandsRegion(WSP)hasbeenindevelopmentsincethemid1990s,originallyunderDublinCityCouncilasprojectsponsor,andunderIrishWatermanagementsinceJanuary2014.

ThreepublicconsultationshavealreadytakenplacesinceMarch2015,firstontheNeedfortheprojectandtheroadmapforhowtheprojectwouldbeundertaken,thenonexaminationofOptionsandthemethodofappraisingthem,andthirdly,atNovember2015,narrowingdowntheoptions,whichwereoriginallyten,totwoforfurtherexamination,namely:

1. AbstractionfromtheShannonatParteen,and

2.DesalinationofseawaterfromtheIrishSea.

ThisFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR),identifiesthePreferredSchemeasabstractionfromtheRiverShannonatParteen,downstreamofLoughDerg.Theprocessofreachingthisrecommendationisnowofferedforpublicconsultationover14weeks,commencingonNovember8th2016.

Thefeedbackonthisconsultationwillbeincludedaspartofthepreparationofthedesign,theEnvironmentalImpactStatementandthePlanningApplicationwhichwillbesubmittedtowardstheendof2017toAnBordPleanálafortheirindependentadjudication.AtthatpointAnBordPleanálawillundertakeallnecessarystatutoryconsultations.InOctober2015,IrishWateralsopublisheditsWaterServicesStrategicPlan(WSSP),whichsetsoutstrategicobjectivesforthedeliveryofwaterservicesthroughoutthecountryoverthenext25yearsupto2040.TheWSPiscloselyalignedwithkeyobjectivesoftheWSSPand,sinceitservesmorethan40%ofthepopulationoftheState,itisanimportantcomponentinthedeliveryoftheoverallstrategicplan.

Thequestionof‘Need’relatesnotjusttoprovidingadditionalwatertomeetgrowingdemand,butalsotoprovidingincreasedrobustness,orresilience,intheoverallwatersupplysystem,againstlossofsupply,orcontamination/pollutionevents,orrisksarisingfromclimatechange.

Theresearchworkandpublicconsultationoverthepasttwoyearshasconcludedthatexistingsupplysourcesandinfrastructurefortheregion,donothavethecapacityorresiliencetomeetfuturerequirements.Populationandindustrialgrowthwillgenerateademandforanadditional330millionlitresofwaterperdayby2050(whichistheequivalentof130Olympicsizedswimmingpools).ThepresentinfrastructureisstrugglingtomeetcurrentneedasevidencedbyanumberofsignificantandcostlyoutagesinDublinoverthepast5years.

Publicconsultationhasconsistentlyemphasizedtheimportanceofwaterconservationandofreducingleakage,whichisanationalproblem,andwhichistoohigh.Section5oftheFOARoutlinessignificantprogressmadebyIrishWater,overthepast12months,workingwithcustomerstoreduceleakage.ThewaterdemandprojectionsfortheWSPalreadyincludeambitioustargetsforleakagereduction,andassumethatthesetargetswillbemet.However,whilefixingleaksandwaterconservationinitiativeswillprovidevaluablewatersavings,onwhichwearealreadyrelyingtohelptomeetdemand,thiswillnotprovidealongtermsolutionforourwatersupplyrequirements.

TheWSPrepresentsthefirstmajorcomprehensiveupgradetoIreland’s‘newsource’infrastructureinover60years.ItisakeyelementofIrishWater’soverallnationwideremitasitwillmeetthedomestic,commercialandindustrialneedsofover40%ofIreland’spopulationintothemediumtolong-termfuture(to2050).


Assessing Potential SourcesThe four Options

Overthepasttwoyears,fourtechnicallyviableoptionshavebeenassessed,andrefineddowntotwo.ThefouroptionsconsistedofabstractionfromNorthEasternLoughDerg,withandwithoutMidlandsrawwaterstorage,abstractiondownstreamofLoughDergatParteenBasin,anddesalinationofseawaterinNorthFingal.Thefourwerevalidatedfromanoriginallistof10possibleoptions,examinedpreviouslyduringthe2008–2010period.

ThefourtechnicallyviableoptionswereexaminedinthePreliminaryOptionsAppraisalReport(Nov2015),andrefineddowntotworemainingoptions,underassessmentcriteriawhichincluded:-

TheassessmentsfoundthatthetwoNorthEastLoughDergoptionshadasignificantlygreaterpotentialtoimpactnegativelyontheShannonsystem(fromanenvironmentalperspective)thantheParteenBasinoptionwhichalsohasthepotentialtoprovidemorewidespreadbenefitsalongthepipelinecorridor.

WhileDesalinationremainedasthesecondrankedviableoption,itwasnotedthatitwas‘Dublin-centric’,anddidnotaddresstheproblemsofsmallisolatedwatersuppliesintheMidlands.

ThePreliminaryOptionsAppraisalReport(Nov2015)identifiedabstractionfromtheRiverShannonatParteenBasin(LowerLake),withwatertreatmentlocatednearby,astheEmergingPreferredOption,withDesalinationofseawaterasalesspreferredalternativeoption.Italsoidentifiedapipelineroutecorridorwhichwouldbelikelytohaveleastenvironmentalimpacts.PublicconsultationonthePreliminaryOptionsAppraisalReporttookplacefromNovember2015toFebruary2016.

Environmental factors:

• Biodiversity,FloraandFauna

• Fisheries

• Water

• Air/ClimaticFactors

• MaterialAssets(Energy)

• CulturalHeritage(includingArchitectureandArchaeology)

• LandscapeandVisual

• MaterialAssets(LandUse)

• Tourism

• Population

• HumanHealth

• Soils,GeologyandHydrogeology

Technical and Risk factors:

• Safety

• PlanningPolicy

• EngineeringandDesign

• CapitalandOperatingCosts

• Sustainability

• Risk(includingtechnical,environmental,planning,financialandsocioeconomic)


Feedbackfromthatconsultationprocess,resultsfromcontinuingsurveys,modellingandinvestigations,aswellasassessmentofthetworemainingoptionsusingtheconstraintsandassessmentcriteria,hasleadtotheformalidentificationoftheParteenBasinschemeasthePreferredOption.DetailsoftheprocesseswhichledtothisfindingaresetoutintheFinalOptionsAppraisalReportanditsAppendices.

FurtherdetailsonthebackgroundandimplementationoftheassessmentprocessweresetoutinthePreliminaryOptionsAppraisalReport.

Moving from Two Alternative Options to One Preferred Option Thetwoalternativeoptionswhichhavebeenunderconsiderationare:

1) Abstraction from the Shannon at Parteen Basin (Lower Lake)

ThisoptioninvolvesabstractionatParteenBasin(LowerLake),downstreamofLoughDerg,followedbywatertreatmentnearbyatBirdhill.TreatedwaterwouldbepumpedtoahighpointneartheTipperary-Offalyborder,fromwhereitwouldflowbygravitytoaterminationreservoiratPeamountinsouthDublin.Overalltherewouldbe170kmoftransferpipelines,crossingthecountryinawaythatcandeliver,atselectedlocations,resilientsuppliesoftreatedwatertoothercommunitiesalongtheroutefromParteenBasintoDublin.

WatervolumesabstractedatParteenBasinwouldbecounterbalancedbyanequalvolumereductioninwaterusedforpowergenerationatArdnacrusha,sothatnochangewouldberequiredinnormaloperatingwaterlevelsonLoughDerg,orinminimumstatutoryflowsrequiredintheRiverShannon

(InthePreliminaryOptionsAppraisalReportpublishedinNovember2015,thishademergedastheoptionmostlikelytoprovidethebestandmostwidelybeneficialnewsourceofsupplyfortheEasternandMidlandsRegion).

2) Desalination

ThisoptioninvolvestheabstractionofseawaterfromtheIrishSeainNorthFingalanddesalinationofthiswaterthroughaReverseOsmosis(RO)desalinationplant,togetherwiththedischargeofbrine(fromthetreatmentprocess)backintotheIrishSea.Theprocessincludesthepumpingoftreatedwaterthroughapproximately35kmofpipelinestoexistingandproposedreservoirslocatedinnorthernandwesternpartsofDublin.

Figure 1: Schematic of proposed abstraction at Parteen Basin


Parteen Basin – The Preferred OptionWhileDesalinationistechnicallyviableitissignificantlymoreexpensivethantheParteenScheme,whichalsooffersgreaterbenefitsacrossawiderareainaccordancewithIrishWater’s25yearWaterServicesStrategicPlan(WSSP).DesalinationwouldalsobeDublinfocussed,andwouldnotaddressproblemswithexisting,smallandvulnerableMidlandwatersupplies,whichisanobjectiveinIrishWater’sWSSP.Desalinationalsoposedapotentiallygreaterenvironmentalimpactthroughitsuseofchemicalsandhighenergyconsumption.

ThereforeabstractionofwaterfromtheShannonatParteenBasin(LowerLake)hasbeenidentifiedastheoptionwhichbestmeetstheobjectivesoftheWaterServicesStrategicPlanbecause:-

• Ithas,byfar,theleastenvironmentalimpactofanyoftheShannonoptionswhichhavebeenunderconsideration.ItistheclosestlocationtotheriverestuarywithallofthewaterhavingalreadyflowedthroughtheShannontoParteen.Itcarriesleastriskofenvironmentalimpactandtheprovisionofwatertreatmentatsourcepreventsriskoftransferofpotentiallyenvironmentallydamagingalienspecies,suchasAsianclamsandzebramussels,intootherrivercatchments.

• ThepipelinefromParteenhasthepotentialtoservetreatedwatertomorelocations,townsandcommunitiesalongtheroutefromShannontoDublinthananyotheroption.

• ParteenBasinisalreadyhighlyregulatedbecauseofthepresenceofthehydro-powerplant,andwaterabstractedforsupplywillbecounterbalancedbyacorrespondingreductioninwaterusedinpowergeneration.Theproposedabstractionofwateris,inessence,anabstractionofwaterfromthehydro-powerscheme.Abstractionofwaterfromhydro-electricpowerschemesiscommonlyemployedworldwidetoenableenvironmentallysustainableavailabilityofdrinkingwater

Pipeline Route Corridor

Several2kmwidepotentialpipeline“corridors”wereoriginallyidentifiedandassessedinthePreliminaryOptionsAppraisalReport(POAR).Oneofthesecorridorswasassessedaslikelytohavetheleastimpactoncommunitiesandtheenvironment,andthisistermed‘leastconstrained’.ThiswasofferedforpublicconsultationinthePOAR,andisthecorridorwithinwhichworkhasbeencontinuingoverthepastyeartowardsdevelopingthefinalrouteforthepipeline.

Narrowing the corridor down to 200m.

SinceFebruary2016,IrishWater’sLandownerLiaisonOfficershavebeencontactinglandownerstoverifylandownershipdetailsandarrangepermissionforenvironmentalsurveys.Feedbackfromthisconsultationandtheresultsofenvironmentalsurveys,hasdefinedapreferred200mpipelinecorridor,withintheoriginal2km‘leastconstrainedroutecorridor’,whichagainispositionedforleastimpact.ThisisshownasthepurplelineinFig2below.

Withinthispreferred200mpipelinecorridor,theFinalOptionsAppraisalReportandassociatedmappingalsopositionsanindicative50mpipelinecorridorwithinwhichitwouldbefeasibletolocatethepipelineinwaywhichaccommodatesenvironmental,technicalandgeographicalconstraints.Thisisstillsubjecttoconsultationwiththosewhoselandtheroutewillcrossorpassneartoandisalsosubjecttosomerefinementwithdetaileddesign,whichwillcontinuetoaimfortheleastimpactonpeopleandontheenvironment.


Sustainable abstraction

IrishWaterproposetoenteranagreementwithESB,toreducewaterusedinhydropowergenerationatArdnacrushabyapproximately2%,tooffsetthewatertobeabstractedfromParteenBasinforwatersupply.Theabstractionwouldeffectivelycomefromwaterwhichiscurrentlyusedinhydropowergeneration,andsubsequentlydischargedtothetidalestuary.ThewatertobeabstractedfromParteenBasinwouldrequirenochangeinthenormaloperatingwaterlevelrangeinLoughDerg.MinimumstatutoryflowrequirementsontheRiverShannondownstreamofParteenBasinwouldalsoremainunaffected.

Regional benefit

IntheinterimperiodsincetheProjectNeedReportofMarch2015,IrishWaterhasreviewedthewatersuppliesinapotentiallyBenefittingCorridoraroundthetreatmentplantandtransferpipeline.

Irelandhasover850watertreatmentplants,serving4.6mpeople,comparedtolessthan50inNorthernIreland,serving1.8mpeople,and297inScotland,serving5.2mpeople.Manyofthesewatertreatmentplantsandsupplyschemes,throughoutthecountry,operateineffectiveisolation,withlittlesupportingconnectivitywhichwouldmaintainsuppliesarounddisruptionofasource,ortreatmentplant,orkeysectionoftrunkmain.Ourdispersed,isolatedsourcesandtreatmentplantsarealegacyofplanningat‘countylevel’andwiththeformationofIrishWateranopportunityexistsforconsolidationtoachieveconsistentlyhighstandardsandbenefitsofscalewhicharenowneeded.ThelowyieldofmanysmallMidlandsources,theirvulnerabilitytopollution,theenvironmentalimpactsofover-abstractionevenunderpresentconditions,arealloperationalfactsandtheconsistenttrendinternationallyistowardconsolidationofsuchsupplies.

Figure 2: Proposed 200m pipeline corridor and existing water supplies in potential Benefiting Areas


Community GainIrishWateroriginallysetoutitsapproachtoCommunityGaininSection10ofthePreliminaryOptionsAppraisalReport(Nov2015).ItidentifiedthepotentialforasignificantelementofcommunitygainforthoselivingandworkingintheEasternandMidlandsRegion.

Inadditiontoimprovedandsustainabledomesticandcommercialwatersupplies,thecommunitiesalongtherouteofthepipelinearealsoinapositiontogainsomespecificadditionalbenefits.

Manyproductsandservicesneededduringconstructionwillbesourcedfromlocalbusinesses;theconstructionphaseoftheprojectwillprovidearangeofemploymentopportunitiesforlocalpeople;IrishWater,workingwithLocalAuthoritiesandotherrelevantbodies,proposetoprovidefinancialsupportfortrainingschemestoenableasmanylocalpeopleaspossibletoworkontheproject.IrishWateralsoproposetosupportprojectsthatcontributetowardsachievingtheconservationobjectivesoftheLowerShannonSpecialAreaofConservation(SAC)andtheobjectivesoftheRiverBasinManagementPlans(RBMPs),andthedevelopmentofenvironmentaleducationandprotectioninitiativesandsportsandleisurefacilities.Tothisend,IrishWaterinitsPlanningApplication,willrequestAnBordPleanálatoincludeacommunitygainfundasaplanningconditioninanyplanningpermissionfortheproject.

OfthetworemainingwatersupplyoptionsexaminedintheFinalOptionsAppraisalReport,thePreferredOption(ParteenBasin)hasthepotentialtogiverisetothegreatestbreadthandvarietyofcommunitygainasits170kmpipeline(SeeFigure2)crossesseveralcountieson-routebetweentheShannonandDublin.TheDesalinationOptionbenefitsamuchsmallerarea,anditdoesnotaddresstheneedtoconsolidateexistingwatersuppliesacrosstheMidlandsandEasternRegion,inaccordancewiththeobjectivesoftheWaterServicesStrategicPlan.

MoredetailedinformationoncommunitygaincanbefoundinSection10oftheFinalOptionsAppraisalReport.

IrishWateraimstoconsolidateexistingsmallerwatersourcesofunreliableyield,orelevatedvulnerabilitytopollution,orlowlinkageandresilience,toachievenationallyuniformstandardsofservicefromconsolidated,efficientwatertreatmentplantsandresilientdistributionsystems.Thisisaclearobjectiveinthe25YearWaterServicesStrategicPlan.Consolidatingthatoverallnumber,iskeytoprovidingconsistent,reliablehighqualitywatersuppliestoallcitizensrightacrosstheRegion.

AtthetimeofpreparationoftheProjectNeedReport(March2015),apreliminaryestimateoftherequirementsoftheBenefittingCorridorwasprepared,basedonindividualcounty‘needassessments’preparedbyLocalAuthorities,whichpredatedIrishWater’sassumptionofresponsibilityforoverallNationalWaterResourcePlanning.IntheinterimperiodsincetheProjectNeedReportofMarch2015,IrishWaterhasreviewedtheWSPneed,basedondetailedanalysisandriskassessmentof107existingwatersupplyschemes,basedonthe25-yearrationalisationobjectivesoftheWaterServicesStrategicPlan,whilstaccountingfornecessaryupgradeworkswhichhavehadtoproceedinadvanceoftheWSP,duetopressingwaterqualityissuesatsomelocations,particularlythoseintheEPAsRemedialActionList(RAL).

Thereviewhasalsoconsideredriskfactorssuchaschangingwaterabstractionlegislation,sourcecontamination,possibletransferofgroupwatersuppliesandclimatechange.


The importance of actionTheFinalOptionsAppraisalReportrecommendsthatabstractionfromtheRiverShannonatParteenBasinis,subjecttopublicconsultationandanynecessaryfurtherresearch,takenforwardtoaPlanningApplicationforthefollowingreasons:-

i. ThepopulationoftheDublinWaterSupplyArea,onrealisticplanningscenarios,willrisefrom1.52mpeopleat2011,to2.15mby2050.ThepopulationofthepotentialBenefitingCorridoraroundatreatedwaterpipeline,routedacrosstheMidlands,wouldrisefrom0.53mat2011,toapproximately0.68mby2050.

ii. TheprincipalwaterabstractionandtreatmentcentresontheRiverLiffey,atLeixlipandBallymoreEustace,havebeendevelopedoverdecadesoninfrastructureoriginallyprovidedinthe1940sand1960sand,inthecaseoftheVartryReservoir,oninfrastructuredatingfromthe19thcentury.TheWaterSupplyProjectrepresentsthefirstmajorcomprehensiveupgradetoIreland’s‘newsource’infrastructureinover60years.

iii. TheexistingwatersupplysourcesservingtheDublinWaterSupplyAreacancurrentlysupply600-623Mldatfullproductioncapacityunderstressedconditions,againstcurrentaveragedaydemandof550-575Mld.Wheninternationalnormsofprovisionforpeaks,andheadroomareapplied,theshorttermposition,withoutproperplanning,isoneofincreasingdifficultyforreliablymeetingwaterrequirements.Actionisthereforerequiredtoprovidenormalinternationalwaterutilitystandardsofservice.

iv. IntheEastandMidlandsRegion,IrishWater,workingwithcustomers,hasalreadysaved26Mldindomesticleakageoverthepasttwelvemonths.ThecalculatedwaterrequirementfortheWaterSupplyAreaandBenefitingCorridoralreadyassumesthatambitiousleakagerecoverytargetswillbemet(bothonthecustomersideandonthemainsnetwork).However,thereductionofleakagealonewillnotmeettheoverallneed.Therequirementistobothminimisewaterdemandandtodiversifyriskfromoverdependenceonexistingsources.

v. TheoriginalProjectNeedReport,whichincludedanindependentreviewbyIndeconEconomistshasunderlinedthestrategicimportanceofsecure,highqualitywatersuppliesforthekeyexportingsectorsoftheIrisheconomy.Ithasexaminedthecoststotheeconomyofwatersupplydisruptionandthenegativeimpactsofsupplysystemswhichfallshortofinternationalnormsofresilienceandreliability.Indeconhavehighlightedthe“verysignificantnegativeemploymentimpactsifadequatewatersupplyisnotavailabletomeettheneedsofindigenousandoverseasbusinesses”.IDAhavealsoemphasisedtheimportanceofresilientwatersupplies,notonlyfornewindustryconsideringlocatinginIreland,butalsoforthosealreadyestablishedhereandconsideringexpansion.

vi. Waterdemandprojectionshavebeenindependentlydeveloped,byIndeconandbytheProjectEngineeringAdvisers,inconjunctionwithIrishWater.Mostrecentavailabledatafromthemeteringprogrammeondomesticconsumptionhasbeenused,econometricmodellingofindustrialwaterrequirementsacrosseachsectoroftheeconomyhasbeenusedandinternationaltrendsinindustrialwaterusagehavebeenidentifiedandincludedinprojections.

vii.‘DoMinimum’optionsintheabsenceoftheWSPprojectarelikelytobeexpensive,disruptiveandpiecemealinnaturewithoutdecisivelyaddressingtherisksintheabsenceofanewWaterSupplyScheme.


viii.Optionshavebeenassessedwiththesupportofenvironmentalandgeotechnicalsurveys.Apreferredoptionofabstractionof330MldfromtheRiverShannonatParteenhasbeenidentified.ThisissustainableandwillbesupportedbyanAgreementunderstatutetobenegotiatedwithESBwhichwillreducewaterusageinhydropowergeneration,measureformeasure,withwaterabstractedforwatersupply.

ix. IrishWater,inlookingatthewaterrequirementsfromanewsource,hastakenanationalperspectiveandisexaminingthecontributionofanewsourcetotheresilienceofthecollectivesourcesservingtheEasternandMidlandsareasofIreland.Itisexpectedthat,overtime,morethan100publicwatersuppliesintheregion,dependentuponsmallvulnerablesources,willbeconsolidatedtolessthan30%ofthisnumber,supportedbytheWaterSupplyProject.Thisisaccordinglyanationallystrategicproject.

Moving to a Planning ApplicationAteachofthethreepreviousstagesoftheprocessofidentifyingapreferredoption,publicparticipationinthedecisionmakingprocesshastakenplace,andtheviewsofallinterestedpartiesareagaininvitedonthefindingsoftheFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR),andalsoonthescopingofenvironmentalimpactassessmentworkfromthispointonwards.

Public ConsultationAfourteenweekpublicconsultationprocessfollowsthepublicationoftheFOAR.Duringthisperiod,IrishWaterisalsoconsultingontheScopeofanEnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS)onthePreferredOptionofabstractionfromtheShannonatParteen.Thisprocessisopentoeveryone,andthetermsofreferencefortheFOARandEISScopingReportpublicconsultationare:

• IsthereanyadditionalinformationthatshouldbeconsideredinthedevelopmentofthePreferredScheme?

• ArethereanyadditionalenvironmentalissuesoralternativemethodologiesthatshouldbetakenintoconsiderationinpreparingtheEIS?

• HowwouldyoulikeIrishWatertocommunicatewithyouastheprojectprogressestowardsplanningapproval?

IrishWateralsowelcomeallrelevantsubmissionsontheproject.Theclosingdateforreceiptofsubmissionsis14February2017.

Thefeedbackonthisconsultationwillbeincludedaspartofthepreparationofthedesign,theEnvironmentalImpactStatementandPlanningApplicationwhichwillbesubmittedtowardstheendof2017toAnBordPleanálafortheirindependentadjudication.AtthatpointAnBordPleanálawillundertakeallnecessarystatutoryconsultations.

Forfurtherinformation,questionsortomakeasubmissionyoucanvisit:www.watersupplyproject.ieorcontactuson1890252848watersupply@water.ieorbypostbyposttoWaterSupplyProject,MerrionHouse,MerrionRoad,Dublin4.

TherewillalsobeaseriesofPublicOpenDaysinthestudyareawhichwillbeadvertisedonlocalradioandpress.Moredetailontheseeventsareavailableonthewebsite.

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