Vartry Lower Reservoir – The Planning and Design of Upgrade Works

Vartry Lower Reservoir, located in the Wicklow Mountains to the south of Dublin, was constructed in the 1860s. The associated water treatment works provides treated water to South Dublin and the Wicklow area. As part of a major upgrade to the water supply system the reservoir works are to be upgraded and the existing water treatment works replaced.

This paper explains the background, reasons for the need for the upgrade to the reservoir, including spillway improvements, and replacement/refurbishment of the drawoff pipework. It discusses how these proposals have been integrated with the water treatment works replacement and how flexibilities in operational capabilities will be improved. This includes retention of a temporary siphon for permanent beneficial use, including providing an alternative future supply to the water treatment works to allow maintenance and inspection, and re-use of an existing hydro-turbine using winter spillage instead of it becoming redundant once the new water treatment works is operational.