Irish Water is being warned that local representatives in Clare remain firmly opposed to any plan which would see water extracted from the Shannon, and taken to Dublin.
The project, strongly opposed in the Lough Derg area, is one of the options suggested by Irish Water to shore up supplies in Dublin, but fears that they could try to press ahead with the plan have been renewed by an Irish Water suggestion that it hold talks with Councillors.
In a letter to Clare County Council, which has been seen by Clare FM, Irish Water's parent company Ervia suggests meeting the Council in July.
This would see them update Councillors on plans which could see water Lough Derg, and brought by pipe to a reservoir in the Midlands and then onwards to Dublin.
Irish Water is currently working on a Project needs report, and next month it will publish what it calls an 'Options Working Paper' which will allow it pick its ideal approach.
The Shannon project is one of three options – another would see the water taken at Parteen and brought direct to Dublin.
However, there are concerns that tampering with the Shannon would be bad for the environment.
In March Irish Water's Jerry Grant promised to take ALL views on board.
There's been a mixed response to Irish Water's suggestion of a meeting with Councillors, and already the state utility is being warned to expect a far-from-favourable reaction to any plan which would see water taken from the Shannon.
East Clare Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Hayes says local representatives remain firmly against it.
Meanwhile, another Councillor expects that he and his colleagues will engage with Irish Water, despite a frosty relationship to date.
Local representatives have clashed with the state utility over its refusal to engage with them in public on a range of issues.
Private one-on-one talks have been held, though many boycotted these.
Whitegate Fine Gael Councillor Pat Burke told Clare FM he doesn't think that will happen now.
