Clare Councillors are calling for a united front against plans to extract water from the River Shannon to supply Dublin and the Midlands.
Four proposals are being considered by Irish Water but following a meeting in Scarriff yesterday Councillors now feel, two proposals which will affect Clare and the MidWest Region are the frontrunners.
Killaloe Councillors met with Irish Water in Scarriff yesterday, where representatives outlined details of four proposals aimed at increasing water supply to the Mid-lands and Dublin.
Three of them involve plans to take water from the River Shannon at Lough Derg or the Parteen Basin and local Councillors now fear the fourth option of a desallination plant for Water from the Irish Sea has been taken off the table as a similar project in the UK was left idle due to high running costs, while water storage in the midlands could incur similar financial difficulties.
Killaloe FF Councillor Tony O'Brien thinks the plans could have a devastating impact on the local environment.
All six Killaloe Councillors have given their backing to a submission by the River Shannon Protection Alliance which they hope all of Clare's public representatives will get behind.
Whitegate FG Councillor Pat Burke fears the needs of Dublin and the East of the Country will outwiegh local concerns around the Shannon and Lough Derg.
In a statement, Irish Water says it will "fully consider" the concerns raised at yesterday's meeting and will update East Clare councillors on a regular basis as the project moves forward with a preferred option to be announced by late 2015".
