Irish Water has submitted a number of planning applications to Galway County Council following another summer of water conservation notices and water restrictions on the Aran Islands due to low rainfall over the winter months.

This includes the construction of water reservoirs on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin to help ensure a continuous and plentiful supply of water year round on both islands.

Irish Water intends to construct three new water storage tanks on Inis Oírr and two new tanks on Inis Meáin. This will greatly improve the availability of treated drinking water, especially during the peak tourist season.

Commenting on the applications, Irish Water’s Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead, Padraig Hanly, explained:

 “In recent years both islands, especially Inis Oírr has experienced water shortages due to prolonged periods of dry weather. As a result of this, Irish Water has previously had to tanker water from the mainland to the islands in order to ensure both islands had a sufficient supply of water.

“The proposed project will include the construction of three new water storage tanks on Inis Oírr and two new water storage tanks on Inis Meáin. Planning applications have been submitted by Irish Water to Galway County Council for two of the proposed tanks on Inis Oírr and both tanks required for Inis Meáin. The site selection process and surveys required for the final site required on Inis Oírr are ongoing.”

The project also includes the construction of a new watermain to transfer water between the Lacranna source to the water storage tanks on Inis Oírr. The pipeline is approximately 2km in length and will be required to increase the supply capacity from the source to the storage tanks.

The project has been progressed as a result of the findings of a recent hydrological study that found in order to provide a sustainable water supply on both of the islands it would be necessary for Irish Water to provide additional water storage capacity on the islands. 

The new tanks will increase the water storage on Inis Oírr by 9,000m³ and by 3,500m³  on Inis Meáin which is equivalent to more than 100 days stored water supply on both islands.

The site selection process and surveys necessary to determine the final site required for the remaining proposed water storage tank on Inis Oírr are ongoing.

Site investigation works are currently taking place on both islands to inform the design of the proposed raw water storage tanks and raw watermains. Ground Investigations Ireland Limited are currently working on behalf of Irish Water to carry out these site investigation works. Irish Water expects the site investigation works to be completed by the end of July.

Irish Water is planning to submit the final planning application by winter 2017 - subject to planning approval the main construction works are expected to start next year.