Proper debate on water needed as shortage a part of long-term crisis
WATER levels in rivers, lakes and aquifers areator approaching their lowest level on record, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says.
In a week which has seen a national hosepipe ban imposed as Irish Water desperately attempts to shore up supplies, major concerns now surround the ability of the network to provide drinking water coming into the autumn and winter, and possibly into next year.
Dr Matthew Craig, from the EPA’s Hydrometric and Groundwater programme, said groundwater sources, rivers and lakes in most parts of the country were at historic lows. Unless the rains come, supply could be affected over the longer-term.
“Normally we don’t get down to these levels, and haven’t in recent years,” he said.
“We have surface water data from 1975 and 1976 which is the biggest drought we have in terms of data collection. We’re seeing something similar in terms of that now. We know some rivers are at a trickle, they’re effectively drying up. The Dodder is down 60cm, which for a system like the Dodder is reasonably big.
“Until we get a significant break in the weather, it’s likely that groundwater levels, and river and lake levels, will continue to drop throughout the summer and right through until the historical low point in August/September,” he added.
“This clearly has an impact on public water supplies and group schemes, but will be more acutely felt in shallow domestic supplies and farm supplies.”
Irish Water produces some 1.7bn litres of drinking water daily. Demand is well in excess of this across the country, but it has reduced across the Greater Dublin Area since a hosepipe ban was imposed last Monday, before being extended nationally yesterday.
In Dublin, 610 million litres is produced. Last week, demand spiked at 615 million litres. It has since fallen to 580 million, still above average daily consumption for this time last year.
While 80pc of all public water by volume is drawn from rivers and lakes, Irish Water has around 500 groundwater sources, the EPA says. Some are at abstraction limits, even in normal periods.
But around 90pc of agricultural water is drawn from groundwater, and most domestic private wells. They are extremely vulnerable.
There’s another issue on the horizon too. As water levels drop in rivers and streams, it could pose issues in terms of wastewater treatment.
If the flows aren’t sufficient to flush the treated wastewater to sea, it could cause pollution. As one expert put it, it’s like putting too much dilutable orange into too little water.
The issue has highlighted the vulnerability of the entire water supply network, chair of the National Water Forum, Dr Tom Collins said.
Launched in April last year, it consists of 26 members representing organisations and sectors with an interest in water issues, including consumer groups, Irish Water consumers, communities, business, the farming community and environmental sector. A debate is needed. “We need to recognise that this current crisis is part of a long-term crisis,” Dr Collins said. “We have to understand the water challenge in terms of quality, conservation, distribution and public attitude, they’re all presenting a challenge that is unprecedented.
“It’s after generations of neglect and generations of an assumption that we would always be adequate in water and always maintain pristine water sources. Those assumptions no longer hold.
“Amongst water users, both domestic and commercial, attitude change is fundamental. There’s a national debate needed around national water resources which isn’t about charges but which is about a scarce, natural resource which gives Ireland a huge advantage internationally if we manage it well. That debate has not happened in Ireland. The current crisis highlights the need for that.”