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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Oct 1992

Vol. 424 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Castletroy (Limerick) Reservoir Leakage.

Deputy Michael Noonan (Limerick East) gave me notice of his intention to raise the matter of the serious loss of water through leakage of the reservoir at Castletroy, County Limerick.

(Limerick East): I would like to thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for giving me the opportunity of raising this matter. I would also like to thank the Minister of State for coming into the House so late after such a long and traumtic day. It is very late to be conducting business, even though it is important to our consituencies.

The reservoir at Newcastle, Castletroy, County Limerick, which was built 100 years ago, is now porous and is leaking 1.3 million gallons of water per day. This is the main reservoir for the city and its environs and if it were to be subject to a break or collapse that whole area would be without water for an indefinite period. This would cause a major emergency. To put the matter in context, the reservoir supplies water to 100,000 people and it also supplies all the factories and businesses in the greater city area.

I would ask the Minister to give the go ahead immediately to the building of a new reservoir and water tower for Limerick city in or around the same location. The leakage at present costs Limerick Corporation £120,000 annually and there are frequent disruptions in water supplies for lengthy periods. The Minister's Department are well aware of the difficulty. The contract for a new reservoir was put to tender in early 1991 and contractors were selected by Limerick Corporation. These contractors were recommended by the Minister for the Environment in 1992 for appointment, but as yet the Minister has made no decision on the matter. The contract would cost about £3.5 million and it would take about two years to complete the work, but the project would be eligible for EC funding, I presume, at a rate of 50 per cent.

I would ask the Minister to take a personal interest in this matter. The system is sustainable at present even though there is a leakage of 1.3 million gallons a day but if there is a serious break or collapse the whole area will be without water and it will not be possible to remedy the situation for a very long period. I would ask the Minister to give the go ahead for the construction of a new reservoir.

I am tempted to say to Deputy Noonan that I am not glad he raised this matter at 12.45 a.m. although my script states that I am glad he raised the matter. Of course I am glad he raised it but I am sure he will acknowledge that it is very late. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister who is away on official Government business. I understand that there are problems with the existing reservoir in Limerick and that tenders for the approval of a new covered reservoir are in my Department.

Since the publication of the Government's environment action programme in 1990, over £100 million has been invested in the provision of adequate supplies of good quality drinking water. A further £200 million will be spent on these services up to the end of the decade.

This investment in the provision of new and improved water supply schemes throughout the country will ensure compliance with the exacting standards required under the European Communities Drinking Water Regulations. In 1990 the first national report on drinking water quality was published. This report confirmed the fundamental good quality of supplies throughout the country. It is intended that a further report based on sampling in 1990 will be published shortly. I would like to take this opportunity to compliment local authorities, who are the responsible bodies in this area, for their achievements to date. Over the last five years some £16 million has been provided by this Government towards the cost of water and sanitary services facilities in the Limerick area. Major sewerage scheme at Rathkeale and Castletroy which involve a total investment of £23.6 million are under construction and are likely to be completed in 1994.

The problems with the existing reservoir, which have been well documented, provide adequate justification for the provision of a new reservoir to serve Limerick city. The proposal has, therefore, been included in the sanitary services programme. The existing reservoir, which has a capacity of 26,000 cubic metres, was constructed at the end of the last century and has inadequate capacity to cater for present demand. Water losses through leakage of over one million gallons a day are quite unsatisfactory and a worrying drain on the Limerick Corporation's resources. I understand that an extensive survey of the reservoir has been carried out by Limerick Corporation. I am most anxious that my Department be advised of the results of this survey and also of the corporation's proposals for interim remedial works so that some control can be applied to these losses pending the construction of the new reservoir.

A tender recommendation has been submitted to my Department by Limerick Corporation for the construction of a 50,000 cubic metre reservoir and a 900 cubic metre water tower to cater for consumers in the more elevated parts of the city. This proposal will involve an investment in excess of £4 million and will take two years to complete.

The level of capital commitments on the water and sanitary services programme is exceptionally high at present. As a result, it has not yet been possible to approve this major scheme. While I cannot give a definite commitment at this stage, I can, however, assure Deputy Noonan that the Minister will endeavour to bring urgent schemes such as Limerick city reservoir, to construction as soon as possible.

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