Page 91 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

GREYSTONES ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL VOLUME 9

sparse population lends itself to an ideal area for water
storage. The proximity to large population with a need for
clean water makes it a region of national importance.

Vartry Reservoir

Dr John Gray, proprietor of the Freeman’s Journal
and active politician, chaired the Dublin Public Health
Committee, that was instrumental in advocating and
constructing the Vartry Scheme.

It consisted of two
reservoirs, a water
treatment plant, a 4km
tunnel under Callowhill
and 60km trunk main.

The Vartry reservoir
with associated filtrat-
ion and pipe work
were opened on 30
June 1863 to supply
potable water from
Figure 8 Sir John Gray behind an earth dam
on the Vartry River to a stilling reservoir in Stillorgan
supplying Dublin with clean water supplies at a time
when the public health of Dublin residents was in poor
condition.

Dublin’s population had increased rapidly because of
the famine moving people from the countryside into
the cities, and the effect of the Industrial Revolution
peaking at the same time. Sanitation and water
supplies were severely stressed.

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