THE planned extraction of 340 millions of water per day from the Shannon will result in a loss of electricity generation and revenue to the ESB.
This has been confirmed to a city councillor who is chair of the Shannon River Basin Advisory Council, to manage, monitor and investigate issues relating to the Shannon.
The Advisory Council is particularly concerned about the proposed extraction
by Dublin City Council of 340 million litres of water daily from the Shannon, to supplement their own supply.
Next week, Dublin City Council will meet with the Shannon River Basin Advisory Council to discuss the issue but meantime, its chairman, Cllr Jim Long, is calling on Limerick people to support their opposition to the daily extraction of such a high volume of water.
Draft documents can be obtained from Limerick County Council Project Office, Newtown Centre, Annacotty.
Cllr Long said they are particularly worried regarding the volume of water Dublin City Council wants to extract.
“We’ve been informed by the ESB, Ardnacrusha, that from their perspective this will amount to 2.2 per cent of the long term average flow.
Tom Hayes of Power Extraction, Ardnacrusha confirmed that the consequence of this volume of water being extracted from the Shannon during non flood periods, will result in the loss of generation, and consequently, revenue for the ESB, which, Mr Hayes says, “means that the ESB will expect compensation”.
He also confirmed that the extraction of this volume of water “should have negligible effect on flooding,” and that “the effect on water levels should also be negligible.”
There are also fears on fish conservation.
