Atlantic Storms and Summer Droughts - Why Building Water Resilience Across Ireland is Crucial

As Ireland faces drought conditions and water restrictions, forward-thinking industrial facilities are taking the opportunity to review their water resilience plans.

At a glance:

• Irish industrial facilities benefit from proactive water resilience planning

• Mobile water services provide flexible capacity for emergencies and planned events

• Emergency Water Plans offer cost certainty and guaranteed availability

• Case study: Refinery restored operations quickly using mobile solutions

Despite Irish weather having a long-standing reputation for being rather cloudy and rainy, significant portions of Ireland entered drought status in summer 2026. This affected millions of people across the island, with water restrictions implemented in multiple counties. It followed the driest July in over 150 years and exceptionally low levels of rainfall - with similar conditions felt across the entire island, from Cork to Donegal.

While it may feel counterintuitive to prepare for heavy rainfall during a prolonged period of insufficient rain, science and history dictate that there are high risks for deluge following drought. Areas affected by prolonged dry spells can be especially vulnerable to sudden flooding when heavy storms arrive. In regions impacted by drought-driven wildfires, scorched ground and debris can further restrict drainage, increasing the risk of flash flooding.

New research shows that Ireland's water patterns are becoming increasingly erratic, with rapid swings between droughts and floods expected to worsen over the coming decades. This growing instability poses real challenges for water managers, farmers, and infrastructure planners alike because the systems built to handle droughts or floods separately struggle when conditions flip.

Furthermore, when researchers analysed Irish river catchments including the Shannon, Liffey, Suir, and Blackwater systems and compared historical data with future climate projections, they found these transitions vary significantly by region. The east coast (Dublin, Louth, Wicklow) and south-east (Waterford, Tipperary) appear most vulnerable to rapid water availability swings, while western regions (Galway, Mayo, Sligo) face increased flood risk.

Back in 2018, Ireland experienced exactly this situation. Following a prolonged dry spell in spring and early summer, the country experienced severe flooding in autumn and winter months. Baked soils from the dry spell triggered instant surface-water flooding across several towns and rural areas as the drainage infrastructure was overwhelmed. Counties like Galway, Clare, and Limerick were particularly affected.

This year we are seeing a perfect storm of similar conditions.  For water-dependent industrial operations, from refineries and chemical plants to food processing and manufacturing, maintaining consistent water quality and supply is fundamental to business continuity. While permanent water treatment infrastructure handles day-to-day requirements, having a robust plan for unexpected, seasonal challenges provides valuable operational flexibility.

Understanding seasonal water risks

Although Ireland's shift from dry to wet conditions is a familiar seasonal pattern, extreme swings place added pressure on industrial water systems. After prolonged dry periods, hardened ground alters drainage behaviour and increases surface runoff when heavy rainfall returns.

For industrial facilities, this seasonal transition touches several operational areas:

Water treatment systems: Sudden changes in source water quality can challenge treatment plant capacity and efficiency. Increased turbidity, sediment loads, or contamination from surface runoff may temporarily exceed design parameters. Irish peat soils are particularly prone to releasing tannins and organic matter during heavy rainfall events.

Storage and distribution: Facilities with outdoor storage tanks or exposed pipework need to consider how weather events might affect water quality or system integrity. Ireland's coastal industrial zones face additional challenges from salt spray and storm surge during Atlantic weather systems.

Business continuity factors: Production schedules, customer commitments, and regulatory compliance requirements don't pause for weather events. Having contingency plans ensures operations can continue even when primary systems face challenges.

Risk assessment: The most effective approach is identifying potential vulnerabilities before they become operational issues. Annual reviews of emergency response capabilities represent industry best practice, particularly ahead of the Atlantic storm season (September-March).

Case Study: How pre-planning enabled rapid flood recovery

A major Italian refinery processing 14,000 barrels daily demonstrates the value of establishing water service partnerships before emergencies arise.

The Client
Back in 2016, the facility engaged Veolia’s mobile water services to support its ageing water treatment system, securing a reliable supply of high-quality water for boiler operations while long-term upgrades were being planned. 

The Problem
Later, When 250mm of rainfall fell in just two hours, the resulting flood covered the site with a meter of standing water. Critically, hydrocarbons from flooded equipment contaminated the water, creating both operational and environmental challenges. The refinery pumped contaminated water into vacant oil storage tanks to contain it, but with storage capacity consumed, they needed a rapid treatment solution.

Our Solution
 Within hours, dissolved air flotation (DAF) units combined with four activated carbon filtration units were delivered and commissioned. The mobile treatment system processed 400m³/hour of contaminated floodwater, safely removing hydrocarbons before discharge. This freed storage tanks and enabled the refinery to return to pre-flood production levels while maintaining environmental compliance.

Three factors made this rapid response possible:

1. Established relationship: Veolia teams already understood site layout, safety protocols, and operational requirements—eliminating the learning curve of engaging a new supplier during a crisis.
   
   
2. Pre-negotiated framework: Equipment could deploy immediately without contract negotiations or procurement delays that would have extended downtime.
   
   
3. Technology portfolio access: The same partnership that provided RO and filtration for planned maintenance also gave access to specialised DAF and carbon systems for emergency hydrocarbon removal.
   
   

For Irish facilities, this case study highlights the value of resilience planning during calmer periods, enabling a more effective response when critical situations arise. The refinery's investment in mobile water services for routine support created emergency response infrastructure that proved invaluable when unexpected challenges arose.

Veolia has delivered similar rapid-response solutions have been delivered for Irish industrial clients facing flood-related water challenges. When extreme weather events have compromised water treatment systems or contaminated source water supplies, mobile fleets have enabled facilities to maintain operations while permanent infrastructure is restored.

Mobile water treatment technologies

Understanding available solutions helps operations managers develop effective resilience plans:

MobileFlow* filtration systems

• Capacity: Up to 136 m³/hour (up to 250 m³/hour for M-PAK ultrafiltration)
• Removes: Suspended solids, reduces turbidity to ≤ 0.1 NTU (using ultrafiltration)
• Handles sudden increases in sediment from surface runoff
• Trailer-mounted for rapid deployment 

MobileFlow DI (Demineralisation / Ion Exchange)

• Capacity: 22-110 m³/hour
• Produces: High-purity water (conductivity down to 0.1 µS/cm)
• Critical for boiler feedwater during source water contamination
• Off-site resin regeneration eliminates on-site chemical handling 

   

Mobile DeltaFlow (RO/EDI Combined)

• Capacity: 30-70 m³/hour product flow (56-110 m³/hour feed flow)
• Produces: Ultrapure water (conductivity <0.2 µS/cm and reactive silica <20 ppb)
• Continuous electrochemical regeneration completely eliminates the need for regeneration chemicals or resin replacement
• Combines Reverse Osmosis and Electrodeionisation in a single, compact process unit 

   

Mobile RO (Reverse Osmosis)

• Capacity: 10-148 m³/hour
• TDS rejection: 95% to 99% (97% or greater typical)
• Produces consistent high-purity water from variable sources
• Extends demineralisation capacity 10-20x when used as pre-treatment

Specialised Treatment 

• Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) for hydrocarbon removal
• Activated carbon for organic contaminants
• Ultrafiltration for particles and bacteria
  
  
  

Veolia operates the UK's largest mobile water fleet from our Peterborough service centre, available for 24/7 deployment.

Why emergency water planning is crucial

To build water resilience, operators need to fully understand their operational vulnerabilities and establish response capabilities before they're needed.

Key planning elements

• Which processes cannot tolerate water disruptions?
• What's the financial impact of various downtime scenarios?
• Where are your single points of failure?
• What alternative water sources could you access?
  
  

2. Establish emergency response capability

Many UK facilities establish pre-arranged emergency water service agreements as part of their business continuity planning. These frameworks provide:

• Immediate access: Equipment dispatch within 2 hours for emergencies
• Cost certainty: Pre-negotiated rates eliminate emergency pricing
• Priority availability: Reserved equipment capacity during high-demand periods
• Faster deployment: Pre-approved site protocols and safety procedures
  
  

The advantage extends beyond emergencies. The same mobile water services support planned maintenance, capacity augmentation, water source diversification, and process trials. This makes the investment valuable for both routine and critical situations.

What next?

The key to any business continuity planning is assessing and addressing problems before they arise - and water management is no different. The weather has always been somewhat unpredictable but in recent years this is becoming more and more apparent. From water scarcity to flooding - historic levels are being surpassed and at rapid rates. To be prepared for any situation, industrial facilities must think about reviewing their emergency response capabilities and establishing partnerships that provide flexibility and rapid deployment when needed.

Whether supporting planned maintenance, managing seasonal variations, or responding to unexpected weather events, mobile water services offer a practical complement to permanent infrastructure.

The most effective resilience plans are developed during calm periods, not during crises. Taking time now to assess vulnerabilities, establish emergency frameworks, and secure priority access to mobile water services provides valuable insurance for your operations —and peace of mind for your management team.

Learn more about our mobile water services and contact our Irish mobile team to discuss your site contingency plans.

 *Trademark of Veolia; may be registered in one or more countries. 

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