Irish Water is warning there's a 'pressing need' for a new water supply for the eastern and midlands regions of Ireland.
Irish Water says conservation programmes and cutting down on leaks won't be enough to deliver the supply needed in the future for the midlands and eastern regions.
Even when all of the available water is used, 'significant' additional amounts will be needed, including 215 million litres extra a day in Dublin alone by 2050.
It's insisting a new source must be developed and used.
Previously, there has been strong opposition here to a proposal which would see Dublin's water needs served by extracting water from Lough Derg.
An 8 week consultation process is now getting underway, which will feed into an Options Working Paper to be published this year.
If a preferred option is agreed, an application will go to An Bord Pleanala for planning approval in 2017.
