An Bord Pleanála Inspector’s Report File Reference: 19.PW 3004. Re: Application by Offaly County Council to An Bord Pleanala under Section 8 of the Water Supplies Act 1942 as amended for a Provisional Order for the Abstraction of a supply of water from the Camcor River at Springfield Bridge in the townland of Clonoghil Upper, Birr, County Offaly up to a maximum of 5,258 cubic metres of water in any 24 hour continuous period. Local Authority Offaly County Council Objectors (1) Rosalind and Derek Fanning. (2) Inland Fisheries Ireland. (3) Jack Feehan. (4) John Barnwell. Inspector Derek Daly 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction. 2.0 Existing overall water supply position. 3.0 Description of proposal. 4.0 Objectors’ submissions. 5.0 Responses of Offaly County Council to submissions. 6.0 Further information submitted by Offaly County Council. 7.0 Oral Hearing. 7.1 Appearances and introduction. 7.2 Direct Evidence of Offaly County Council. 7.3 Questions and issues arising from the Offaly County Council submission. 7.4 Submission of Inland Fisheries Ireland. 7.5 Further questions arising from submission of Inland Fisheries Ireland. 7.6 Closing Submission by Local Authority. 8.0 Statutory Provisions and Policy Context. 9.0 Assessment 10.0 Conclusion 11.0 Recommendation. 2 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Offaly County Council, on the 6 th of July 2011, made a proposal, under the Water Supplies Act 1942 for the taking of a supply of water from the Camcor River at Springfield Bridge in the townland of Clonoghil Upper, Birr. A Book of Reference of those persons likely to be affected as required by the Act was prepared and the persons concerned were notified. 1.2 On the 7th of July 2011 a notice was published in the Midland Tribune newspaper giving details of the proposal referred to as the Birr Water Supply Scheme Abstraction Order and giving information to the effect that “should an objection not be withdrawn, Offaly County Council will apply to An Bord Pleánala for a provisional order which will state that the aforementioned Proposal may come into force”. In the event 4 objections were made and not withdrawn. 1.3 Offaly County Council applied to the Board for approval of the Provisional Order on 23 rd of August 2011. 1.4 An Bord Pleánala, as required by legislation, arranged for an oral hearing into all matters relating to the Provisional Order and I was appointed to conduct it. The hearing took place in the County Arms, Birr, on the 7th March 2012. 1.5 Issues relating to the existing supply arrangements and more particularly the estimate of future demands and alternative solutions were raised and discussed at the oral hearing. 1.6 The existing balance between supply or capacity and demand and alternative possible sources for abstraction was also raised at the hearing. 1.7 I carried out an inspection of the site on the 24 th of February 2012 and also during the course of the oral hearing. 1.8 This report is in accordance with the warrant appointing me and reflects the proceedings of the oral hearing. 2.0 EXISTING OVERALL WATER SUPPLY POSITION. 2.1 The existing Birr Water Supply Scheme (BWSS) is supplied from two separate surface water abstraction points on the Camcor River. On abstraction point close to Kinnity supplies 763 cubic metres of water per day and the other at Springfield Bridge supplies a maximum of 2,273 cubic metres per day. There is an existing abstraction licence for the Springfield Bridge abstraction point since 1970 for provision of a water supply for the town of Birr. The abstracted water is treated in the town treatment works treating a maximum of 2,273/m3/day which have been upgraded over the years. The BWSS has storage for approximately 24 hours of existing demand. 2.2 The Camcor River rises near Kinnity in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and flows in a westerly direction to join the Little Brosna River to the west of Birr town. The river has a total channel length of approximately 29 kilometres with a catchment area of 160 km 2. 3 2.3 It is proposed that the existing Kinnity abstraction point will be made redundant due to low levels during dry periods and increase the existing abstraction licence at Springfield Bridge to a maximum of 5,258 cubic metres. 2.4 The existing scheme in addition to supplying Birr town also supplies the Crinkill area and two group water supply schemes. 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL 3.1 The application by Offaly County Council is for a Provisional Order in respect of the abstraction of a maximum of 5,258 cubic metres of water per day from the Camcor, adjacent to Springfield Bridge in the townland of Clonoghil Upper, Birr under Section 8 of the Water Supplies Act, 1942. 3.2 It is indicated that following a detailed assessment the figure of 5,238 m 3 is projected as the future design requirement for the Birr Water Supply Scheme to the year 2029 and a new license will permit abstraction as demand requires it. As part of the service of supplying water ongoing water conservation and rehabilitation works will occur and significant conservation has been achieved. The existing scheme not withstanding these measures is near capacity and a secure source of water supply is required to ensure continuity of supply and to allow for future growth in the town. 3.3 The initial documentation submitted to the Board included (1) A copy of the newspaper notice in relation Abstraction Order. (2) A book of Reference in relation to Riparian Owners and notification of parties. (3) A report on the location of the Abstraction Point. (4) A technical report in relation to water supply. (5) A report in relation to the Abstraction Order proposal. (6) An interim impact assessment by Enviroco Management Ltd in relation to environmental impacts arising from the proposed abstraction. (7) Objectors to the scheme. (8) Responses to objectors to the scheme by Offaly County Council. (9) A copy of the Manager’s Order in relation to the proposal. 3.4 The documentation as referred to outlines the following information. 3.5 Water analysis indicates unpolluted water at the Springfield Bridge abstraction location. 3.6 The proposed increase in water abstraction is 2,985 cubic metres of water per day (0.035/m3/s). The 95 percentile flow for the Camcor River downstream of the Springsfield Bridge is indicated as 0.67m3s and the Dry Weather Flow (DWF) minimum flow rate in 50 years is indicated as 0.3/m3/s. The proposed abstraction rate represents 9.1% of the DWF and it is considered that the increase in abstraction is not expected to have any adverse impacts on the downstream reach of the river. 3.7 There is an analysis in relation potential impacts arising from leachate and other discharge from the Clonbrone Landfill. 4 3.8 The confluence of the Little Brosna River and the Camcor River is approximately 3 kilometres from the proposed abstraction point. The DWF in the Little Brosna River at Croghan Bridge just downstream of the confluence is 77,760m 3 per day is three times the daily Camcor River DWF of 25,920m 3. 3.9 Existing and future water demand requirements are outlined indicating a water requirement of 5,258m 3/d for 2029. 3.10 The little Brosna River was considered as a possible future source of water for Birr and although it has an adequate flow rate it is noted it is slightly polluted and the topography and levels would incur greater pumping costs. The Rath GWS supplied from a groundwater source was also examined but it was recommended that this source be retained a water source for areas to the north and north east of Birr. 3.11 The option of increasing the existing water source on the Camcor River was considered the best option as part of an overall improvement of the existing scheme to meet projected future demands and addressing existing deficiencies in the BWSS. 3.12 The interim impact assessment by Enviroco Management Ltd refers to objections received relating to impact on fish life in the river with particular reference to the Croneen Trout and ongoing decline in the volume of the river and the need for further work and assessment. 4.0 OBJECTORS SUBMISSIONS. 4.1 Rosalind and Derek Fanning in a submission to Offaly County Council refers to concerns in relation to the impact of increased abstraction on the Croneen Trout species, to lowering volumes in the river and increased risks of pollution in the river. Reference is also made to conservation of water addressing future needs. 4.2 Inland Fisheries Ireland in a submission to Offaly County Council refers to the importance of the Camcor River as a fishery for salmon and trout, to works to develop the fishery and there is particular reference to the importance of the river as a habitat for the Croneen trout. Concern is raised in relation to lowering of water levels and its impact on fish life. It is indicated that other sources be examined further in particular additional capacity at the Rath groundwater source and the Little Brosna River, which has higher capacity flows. 4.3 Jack Feehan in a submission to Offaly County Council refers to absence of future growth in population, that existing problems in the water scheme be addressed before increasing abstraction, lowering water levels, concerns relating to the Croneen trout and risks of pollution arising from the old landfill site.