We have to face our water challenge
Like everything else at present, it’s inevitable that, sooner rather than later, people will have to pay upfront for their domestic water supplies.
Charging householders for water will be a political hot potato but given the high cost of producing treated water, a government desperately trying to balance its books can rule nothing out.
Last year, Environment Minister John Gormley said domestic water charges will not be introduced during the lifetime of the current government, but admitted shortages will be a key issue Ireland has to grapple with.
Like any politician, the Green party minister would first opt for other, less painful ways of tackling potential shortages, including the reduction of leakages from public supplies, which run as high as 50% in some areas.
The greater Dublin area faces acute water shortages in 40 or 50 years when water levels in the River Liffey could be just half of what they are today, due to prolonged dry spells expected to result from climate change.
Dr John Sweeney, of the Irish Climate and Research Unit, NUI Maynooth, says that as the city’s population grows close to two million there will be a demand for an extra 300 million litres per day. Demand is currently at 500 million litres per day, but even that demand may not be met within 20 to 30 years.
Most of our drinking water comes from rivers and lakes, some of which are just not able to keep up with the demand. Researchers say climate change is exacerbating problems and that the growth of population is also adding to demands on the supply.
Dr Sweeney says that an alternative water supply has to be found to offset the problem. Possible solutions include desalination of sea water from Dublin Bay as well as finding a ground water source. A proposal to pipe water from the river Shannon to the metropolis is already meeting with stern opposition in the mid-west.
A 2006 feasibility study for the greater Dublin water supply called for the immediate development of a new water source, pointing out that it will be needed no later than 2015-2016 to avert water rationing and the curtailment of economic growth. As it would take up to a decade to develop such a source, there’s clearly no time to waste.
Domestic water rates in Ireland were first abolished in the late 1970s when local authorities became largely dependant on central government for funds. Subsequent attempts by councils to reintroduce water rates proved extremely unpopular, highlighted by the anti-water charges campaign in Dublin in the 1990s, including demonstrations and boycotting of the charges Now, with councils told to trim their budgets, the imposition of water charges is back on the agenda.
In most countries, householders pay for their water. In Ireland, however, only non-domestic users, such as businesses, industry and farmers, pay through a metering system.
Water use in Ireland, at an average of 160 litres per person per day, is slightly higher than in other European countries. Efforts are already being made to reduce water here under a national conservation programme.
Since November 1, for example, it has been mandatory to install dual-flush toilets in new buildings and in existing buildings where toilets are being replaced.
Mr Gormley pointed out that more than a third of the drinking water produced is used to flush toilets. Dual-flush toilet cisterns have a mechanism that allows two modes of operation, involving a six-litres and a four-litres flush. In contrast, current single-flush cisterns generally use between six and nine litres per flush.
“When applied to current annual housing projections, dual-flush toilets in new dwellings should reduce drinking water consumption by approximately 10% in these dwellings, or by almost 500 million litres of drinking water every year. This is equivalent to the total volume of water consumed in the greater Dublin area every day,” the Minister stated.
Attempts are also being made to conserve water in Britain where nearly half the population of England and Wales now live in areas of ‘water stress’, where supply may not keep up with demand.
Many rivers, lakes and estuaries are being drained so low that there’s a risk to public supplies in dry years and to wildlife.
Britain’s Environment Agency is calling for significant increases in the number of homes with water metres so as to reduce demand. The average use of water there is 148 litres per person per day, compared to a government target of 130 litres.
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