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Irish Water is planning to build a new covered reservoir at the Stillorgan Reservoir site in Co Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown.
The utility company said it will submit proposals to develop the facility as part of an €80 million upgrade scheme over the coming weeks.
As one of the last remaining reservoirs of its kind in Europe, the project will help safeguard the water quality for around 200,000 customers, as treated drinking water exposed to the environment presents an "unacceptable contamination" risk.
The development would include draining one of the reservoirs to build the new facility. Once it is operational, the other open reservoirs will be decommissioned, and landscaping of the site will take place. The new covered reservoir will have the capacity to support future growth up to 2031. Subject to approval, it is expected construction will begin in 2018 and take two years to complete.
Geoff O'Sullivan, Project Manager with Irish Water, said: "Covering the reservoir will safeguard the quality of drinking water for the community and provide a long-term solution for the safe and sustainable management of the water supply for the next 15 years.
"This is a priority project for Irish Water and we are committed to investing approximately €80 million to ensure the upgrade to the reservoir provides the long term solution that is required to secure the water supply.
"The Stillorgan Reservoir has served the community for over 150 years and this project will ensure it continues to do so. The two decommissioned reservoir areas will be maintained by Irish Water for future water infrastructure development to ensure that the community continues to have a safe, sustainable water supply for the future."
(LM)
