Irish Water has set out plans to pipe over 300m litres a day from the basin to ensure supplies to the east coast meet demand.

Dublin has seen water cuts in recent years and Irish Water say a new source is needed. The Parteen Basin has been identified as the best option.

Members of the Limerick Metropolitan District have now come out in support of the Shannon Protection Alliance which is campaigning to block the Irish Wate plan.

Proposing the move, Independent councillor John Gilligan said it was a problem of the past versus a solution of the future.

Independent councillor Gilligan said authorities in London had successfully tackled inadequate supplies from the Thames to ensure ongoing supplies.

Mr Gilligan said: “They have dealt with their water problem through a programme of desalination of sea water. This process is driven by renewable energy and wave power. This ticks all the boxes.

“What Irish Water propose would involve huge amounts of oil being used to pump water from the Parteen Basin to the greater Dublin area over the next 30 or 40 years.

“We would be mad to go along with what Irish Water propose and we will be sending the motion we have unanimously passed today to the minister. We don’t want this to become a political football over the coming election and we call on all the parties to take on board our views.”

Parteen Basin

Mr Gilligan said they would also be in contact with the Shannon Protection Alliance and would circulate the motion to all interested parties, such as fishing clubs along the Shannon.

“What we fear is that future generations will be penalised by a stupid decision on this by Irish Water. Even in oil-rich Dubai they have huge supplies of water and this is achieved through desalination. This is a process used all over the world. So why can’t Irish Water look at this to deal with problems in Dublin?”

Anti Austerity Alliance councillor Cian Prendeville said much of the water problem in Dublin was a result of leakage, old piping, and lack of proper maintenance of the system.

He said: “Irish Water needs to deal with the leakage issue in the Dublin area. There are also environmental issues. Irish Water has not looked at in their model with regards to the damage it would cause along the old Shannon down from Parteen Weir to Limerick.”