Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region

Uisce Éireann’s purpose is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. Today, with just one source the River Liffey supplying 85% of the water requirements for 1.7 million people in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) comprising Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, we cannot achieve this. We urgently need a new source to provide a safe, secure resilient supply of water to meet the needs of homes and business now and into the future. The pressure on our capacity to supply water is a challenge on a daily basis, due to ageing infrastructure, a growing population and economy and the impacts of climate change. Even when we reach our target to bring leakage to below 20% in the Greater Dublin Area by 2030 this will not address our resilience and our lack of supply. The solution is the Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region, which will provide a sustainable climate proof solution up to 2044 and beyond. This is a critical national infrastructure project which has the capacity to support water supply needs of up to 50% of our population. It is supported in the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan, along with the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Eastern and Midlands Region.

Why do we need the Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region?

The River Liffey supplies 85% of the water requirements for 1.7 million people in Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.

Our dependence on one source is a critical weakness. There is no alternative if there is a contamination/weather event.

Population growth, economic growth and climate change means the demand for water will only escalate - 34% more water will be required by 2044.

A new source is needed to support economic growth and housing and to avoid restrictions and large-scale water outages.

A new source will provide resilience in the water system and meet the challenge of climate change.

Leakage reduction remains a priority. Our target is to reach 20% in the Greater Dublin Area by 2030 - A new source is needed to address lack of supply diversity and resilience.

The project has the capacity to support water supply needs of up to 50% of the population

Eastern and Midlands regional Water Supply Project Map

The Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region will serve the Greater Dublin Area in addition to benefitting the wider Eastern and Midlands Region

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The proposed project is consistent with the regional solution identified in Uisce Éireann’s Regional Development Plan for the Eastern and Midlands Region.
The Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region (the “Water Supply Project”) will abstract water from the lower River Shannon at Parteen Basin in Co. Tipperary, downstream of Lough Derg with water treatment at Birdhill.
Treated water will be piped 170km through Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in County Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin Area water supply network with capacity to provide water to communities along the route.
The Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region proposes to abstract just 2% of the average flow of the River Shannon.

The interconnection of supplies will provide improved security of supply to homes and businesses and reduce the vulnerability to climate change

Eastern and Midlands regional in depth Water Supply Project Map

The Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region will enable us to meet the challenges of climate change by diversifying our water supplies.
It will provide the Greater Dublin Area of Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow with a resilient, safe, secure water supply.
It will also have capacity to serve communities along the route in Newport, Killaloe, Dunkerrin, Moneygall and Borrisokane in North Tipperary, and Tullamore in Offaly and Mullingar in Westmeath.
In addition, 17 supplies currently serving Dublin can be redirected back to Louth, Meath, Kildare, Carlow and Wicklow, which will support balanced regional development.

This national project will secure water supply for up to 50% of the State's population up to 2050 and beyond

A secure, resilient water supply for the Greater Dublin Area of Dublin, Wicklow, Meath and Kildare to support population and economic growth including housing and climate change.

The first ever water spine across the country with capacity for offtakes along the route in Tipperary, Tullamore in Offaly and Mullingar in Westmeath, providing balanced regional opportunities.

New source will enable the redirection of water currently serving Dublin to local communities in Louth, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and Carlow, providing regional development opportunities.

Greater resilience against the impact of climate change through climate adaption and the provision of a new, sustainable source of water supply.

The Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region will address water supply needs across 36 water resource zones, ensuring resilience to future shocks such as drought and climate change.

The Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region will create an interconnected network that will support population, housing and economic growth to 50% of the State's population.

Summary of the Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region

Next Steps

The preliminary business case for the project, seeking approval in principle to proceed to planning, has been submitted to the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government under the Public Spending Code.

Subject to Government approval, there will be a further opportunity to make a submission on the project through Non-Statutory Consultation together with landowner engagement, in advance of the submission of a planning application.

The planning application will be submitted to An Bórd Pleanála in 2025, subject to external dependencies.