Irish Water has published details of its preferred route for a new 170km pipeline which would take water from the River Shannon to supply the eastern and midlands regions of Ireland.

It has been said that the Water Supply Project will deliver "secure and sustainable water" for more than 40% of the country's population up to 2050.

The Water Supply Project involves the sustainable abstraction of water on the eastern shore of Parteen Basin in Co Tipperary, with water treatment nearby at Birdhill. The treated water would then be piped 170km to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in South County Dublin. Supplies of treated water would be made available to Midland communities along the route from Parteen Basin to Dublin.

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The preferred scheme is the first major new water source upgrade for the Eastern and Midlands Region in over 60 years.

Irish Water is now holding public consultations over the next 14 weeks to seek feedback on the proposed development of the preferred scheme, as well as to seek views on what should be considered in the Environment Impact Statement (EIS) which will accompany a planning application to An Bord Pleanála in late 2017.

Details of the process by which the Preferred Scheme was identified are set out in the Final Options Appraisal Report which can be found here.

Members of the public are also able to attend any of the scheduled Open Days in order to meet the Project Team, find out more about the project, ask questions and share views. Details of scheduled Open Days are available here.

(JP/LM)