Water shortage - We cannot overestimate this problem

THE difficulties involved in convincing any person wading through the Irish summer of 2007 that water is a scarce resource are obvious.

Our traditional and often unthinking expectation of a free and unlimited supply of clean drinking water is not allied to any great sense of communal responsibility in the management or protection of one of the great natural resources of our country. It is one that underpins all of our economic activity, especially the pharmaceutical, food and farming sectors.

To put it in context, the end of oil would be a mere catastrophe, the end of water would be the beginning of the end of life.

Yesterday’s warning from microbiologist Dr Vincent O’Flaherty that it’s “just luck” that the country hasn’t faced a public health crisis caused by water contamination is yet another indication that we have to change our attitude to this most precious resource.

The persistent demands from the European Union that we should pay for domestic water cannot be ignored forever either. Indeed, this imposition might be the most effective means of changing wasteful attitudes.

Supplying new housing developments with clean water has become one of the most expensive elements — in economic and energy terms — of any development. Already some housing projects in the Dublin region are on hold, waiting for the water infrastructure to catch up.

It is obvious that a seismic change in attitude is needed; we can no longer treat clean water as if it comes from a bottomless well and even the most casual glance towards our European neighbours will show that we are, as usual, off the pace in matters environmental.

Already technologies for gathering and storing rain water are becoming common in parts of Europe and though there are few European countries more suited to the collection and use of rain water than Ireland, such schemes remain novel here.

Once again it would be all too easy to blame the public service for this sorry situation, and though they have a great degree of culpability, all of us are guilty of irresponsible waste and pollution of water. As individuals and as businesses we still have a chance to manage the changes needed to resolve the issues.

This window of opportunity cannot, and should not, remain open for long more. Unless we become responsible users of water, sadly, change must be imposed.