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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).
2 | Irish WaterFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR)-NonTechnicalSummary
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)
3 | Irish WaterFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR)-NonTechnicalSummary
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
4 | Irish WaterFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR)-NonTechnicalSummary
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.
5 | Irish WaterFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR)-NonTechnicalSummary
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
6 | Irish WaterFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR)-NonTechnicalSummary
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.
7 | Irish WaterFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR)-NonTechnicalSummary
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.
8 | Irish WaterFinalOptionsAppraisalReport(FOAR)-NonTechnicalSummary
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.