Sir, – According to The Irish Times editorial (July 19th), John Sweeney also believes that "our experience this summer has been a chastening one" and that Ireland's new vulnerability to water scarcity is likely to become more severe in the years ahead as a result of global warming. A historical analysis of average-rainfall data has showed a "continuous rise in annual and winter rainfall", consistent with the impact of "human-driven climate change", according to Dr Conor Murphy of Maynooth University.
So it looks like no shortage of rainfall in the future, so over to Irish Water and investment in infrastructure. – Yours, etc,
FINTAN RYAN,
Borris,
Co Carlow.
Sir, – The water shortages are due to a growing economy and population, chronic underinvestment and natural weather variability. To blame it on global warming is bunkum and a rather pathetic excuse for lack of infrastructural foresight. – Yours, etc,
JIM O’BRIEN,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The recent weather has presented us in Dublin with the ideal tool to identify water leaks. Any unusual or lush areas of plant growth should come under suspicion as indicating underground water leaks or breaches of the sewerage system.
This may be an opportunity that should not be missed, as it could be another 40 years before we get a repeat of this weather. – Yours, etc,
GERARD CARROLL,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.