Fresh call for long-term water storage plan for Clare amid ‘changing climate’ - Clare Echo

A CALL has been made for a strategic assessment of water storage capacity in Clare amid concerns over future demand from population growth, tourism, agriculture and prolonged periods of dry weather.

The proposal was brought forward by Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) at the latest meeting of Clare County Council.

Her motion called on Uisce Éireann to undertake a Strategic Water Storage and Reservoir Assessment for the county.

The assessment would examine current raw-water and treated-water storage capacity serving major Water Resource Zones, effective storage during periods of peak demand and prolonged dry weather, and areas vulnerable to drought or infrastructure failure.

It would also consider whether additional reservoirs, service reservoirs or other strategic water-storage infrastructure would be required to meet Clare’s needs over the next 25 to 30 years.

The motion also called for potential locations for future infrastructure to be identified, with Clare County Council offering to work with Uisce Éireann using its local knowledge, planning expertise and knowledge of future development requirements.

Cllr McInerney said the issue was becoming increasingly important as the county faced a changing climate and continued tourism growth.

“We are in a time of changing climate and tourism growth,” she said.

She said agriculture also needed to be protected and that planning needed to begin for future water requirements.

Cllr McInerney called on Uisce Éireann to look at the “bigger picture” in Clare and said the county needed to be proactive about future infrastructure.

“We don’t want to find ourselves at the back end of the queue when it comes to investment,” she said.

Cllr Shane Talty (FF), who seconded the motion, described it as “very timely”, pointing to water shortages experienced over the summer.

He said Clare had natural water resources, including well water, but there was a lack of infrastructure to store and treat water during periods of high demand.

Cllr Talty said the county was facing inadequate infrastructure and that the issue needed to be addressed as part of longer-term planning.

The motion also called on Uisce Éireann and the Government to ensure any strategic water-storage requirements identified for Clare are considered for inclusion in future national water infrastructure investment programmes.

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