Climate threatens water supply - expert

A leading climate expert has warned of “severe implications” for the Irish economy if the effects of climate change on the water supply is not addressed.

Hydrologist Dr Conor Murphy says there is little doubt climate change is now having a major impact on Irish water resources and it can no longer be assumed that the availability will meet future demand.

In an address to the annual Engineers Ireland Conference in Limerick today, Dr Murphy said: "Although Ireland is assumed to be wealthy in terms of water resources, there are substantial regional differences in the availability of water per head of population, with large parts of the east coast already coming under pressure to meet water demand.

He said a 40 per cent reduction in water availability is now a legitimate possibility.

Dr Murphy, who acted as a national reviewer for the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is conducting research - funded by the Environmental Protection Agency - into the effects of changing temperatures on water resources.

He predicted that winter water flows will also be affected which may result in severe flooding in the future.

“We have traditionally expected a flood in the Boyne every 25 years but by the middle of this century it's likely to occur every three years," he said. "The grave implications for the local population are obvious with increased flooding likely to play havoc with people's lives."

Climate change is also likely to result in a reduction in soil moisture in the summer months which will impact on agriculture and an increased erosion of peatlands

“Essentially, changes in quantity and quality of water resources will affect forestry, agriculture, construction, ecology, energy, tourism and basically every facet of Irish life," Dr Murphy said.