In Kevin O’Sullivan’s article concerning Dublin’s water problems, he makes mention of a rise in water demand equivalent to 120,000 homes during last year – a historical high. This increase could potentially lead to supply problems for Dublin’s non-domestic or commercial sector. However, a discrepancy exists between Central Statistics Office’s tally of new houses completed in 2023, sitting at 32,695, and Uisce Éireann’s, the Irish Water Authority, figures of 4,597 connection proposals linked to 42,970 residential units – indicating a 30% variation in the two.
Moreover, the uptick in non-domestic use surpassed the rise in domestic usage by approximately 2.8 to 3.7 times for 2023. Another key factor to bear in mind is that water system leakage has dwindled to 33% – a new low. Nevertheless, there are plans to drop this leakage rate further to 20% by 2030. Both Uisce Éireann and the Water Forum have foreboded impending difficulties, emphasising the country’s growing need for additional houses and water.
The question arises as to where all this extra water is being consumed. It would be fascinating to uncover which big enterprises are behind this substantial upswing in water use. In particular, I’m curious about the volume of water data centres utilise for cooling purposes.
The impact of data centres on our electricity grid is already well-documented. As per the CSO in 2021, these centres nearly used up a fifth of Ireland’s metered electricity, similar to the combined usage of all Irish urban homes. Were this to be mirrored in water usage, a serious discussion would be warranted.
Data centres not only form an integral part of our digital framework, but also play a critical role in contemporary living. The tech industry serves as a major pillar of the Irish economy, creating lucrative employment opportunities and accounting for a sizeable chunk of our corporate tax receipts. Our cooler climate, which assists in curbing cooling costs, our existing technical infrastructure and our low corporate tax rate all contribute to making Ireland an appealing location for data centre operations.
A matter of balancing the economic gains derived from establishing data centres across Ireland with guaranteeing reliable water and electricity supplies for the populace needs to be posited. Is it time to instigate a nationwide discussion? – Yours sincerely,
DERMOT HARDY,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – The article by Kevin O’Sullivan that has been increasingly gaining national attention comprises part of the mounting interest in Uisce Éireann’s plan to tap the Shannon to meet the water requirements of Dublin. Yet, a significant aspect of this issue, that goes largely unnoticed – the allegorical elephant in the room that goes unseen – is the need for implementing charges on households consuming excessive fresh water. The revenue generated would then be used to mend Dublin’s pipes. Without this intervention, the longstanding goal of harnessing the Shannon is likely to come to fruition far quicker than anticipated. – Yours sincerely,
DAVID EVANS,
Dublin 3.