Water supply under big Laois electricity will be protected insists State power company

The State electricity supply network company that wants to build a big power substation in Laois insists that there is no risk to the drinking water source under the plant.

Eirgrid also insists the €100 million substation is 'urgently needed' in a statement issued following its first meeting last week in Portlaoise with residents who have fought the €100 million project for nearly a decade. 

The Ratheniska Spink Timahoe (RTS) Action Group warned after the meeting that it would prevent the company from accessing power lines in the vicinity of the site at Coolnabacca. The action group has already stalled work on the project by ESB Networks in the shape of a 160-day blockade at the site entrance.

Eirgrid said its chief executive Mark Foley was accompanied by a small team of experts who work on the Laois-Kilkenny Project at the meeting with members of the RTS group in Portlaoise on Wednesday evening November 28.

In its statement, the company said the new 400 kV substation located south-east of Portlaoise is part of the Laois Kilkenny Project that is required to enhance the quality and security of electricity supply in Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow and Kildare.  

"The Laois-Kilkenny Project is required to address two local electricity issues, security of supply and quality of supply. The problems relate to the quality of electricity supply across Laois, Carlow, and Kildare, and a security of supply issue that affects County Kilkenny.

"They are caused by weaknesses and a lack of reliability on the transmission network across the region as a result of continued growth in demand for electricity. The problems need to be addressed urgently.  The project comprises the diversion of two existing local lines into a new electricity substation, and a new 110 kV line from the substation to another new substation at an existing site at Ballyragget in Kilkenny," said a statement.

The RTS group warn that the substation contains a risk to the aquifer which they say is a source of drinking water to 10,00 Laois people. The residents say an accident on the site could lead to the pollution of this supply because a large quantity of oil must be stored at the substation. They say high voltage substations present a high fire risk and the results of such an incident would permanently damage the water.

Eirgrid outlined its response to this claim in a statement following the meeting. 

"We are fully aware of the aquifer and its importance to local residents. Because of this, we conducted a thorough analysis of any possible impacts on it as part of our planning application. The analysis showed that there is a layer of stiff clay subsoil approximately of up to six metres thick above the aquifer at the location of the substation.

"The presence of this clay subsoil will impede any vertical flow of water to the underlying bedrock aquifer. This will prevent any possible contamination of the aquifer," it said.

The company said recently commissioned a report into the aquifer that was carried out by environmental consultancy SLR Consulting and the aquifer was assessed as part of the planning application with three reports produced by AWN Consulting.

Eirgrid says the Laois Kilkenny Project has been "rigorously scrutinised" through a lengthy planning process, including an oral hearing in Portlaoise; a High Court judicial review; and a report by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.  

"We are eager to move to the construction phase of this key piece of local infrastructure that will underpin economic growth for the Midlands and is committed to working with the local community and landowners to resolve any issues in relation to the works," said Eirgrid.

It concludes that planning conditions for these construction works have been discharged.