Clare’s water rates third highest in country

CLARE’S commercial water rates are the third highest in the country, despite the same formula being used to calculate charges in each local authority area.
While some local representatives expressed their dissatisfaction at the cost of non-domestic water charges here, one councillor defended them, saying quality water Is “worth the price”.
The issue was raised at a meeting of Clare County Council this week at which the budget for 2013 was passed.
Councillor Brian Meaney pointed out, “County Clare has the third highest water charges per m3 in the country and I know every councillor here has had representations on this”. He said the charge Is particularly difficult to justify when compared to neighbouring counties. The Green Party councillor asked for “an understandable explanation for the charge so councillors can defend the charge or look at how it could be reduced”.
The local authority’s head of Transportation, Water Services and Environment, Ann Haugh explained the mechanism Clare County Council uses to set the water rates is based on Government policy. She acknowledged there are “large variances in some counties” but repeated that Clare County Council useS the Government formula. Ms Haugh said rates vary based on inputs into this formula.
Differences in costs, she said, result from a number of factors, including varying numbers of water schemes in counties, the cost involved in delivering the water (whether it can be pushed through the pipes by gravity or whether it has to be pumped), the cost of treating the water, the population density, the age and length of the distribution network and whether the water infrastructure was paid for by central Government or financed by the council itself.
Councillor Meaney told officials he would like a presentation from council officials on how the cost of water rates is set at its next meeting.
The meeting heard levels of leakage are in the region of 38%. Former mayor Pat Hayes said it Is “wrong” that the council is “not looking at a way to reduce the charges “but how can we when we have leakage levels that are the same as last year”.
Councillor Christy Curtin rounded on criticism of the water rates in the county. He said rates have “stabilised” in recent years and “good potable water is worth the price”.
Shannon Councillor Gerry Flynn called for special exemptions for voluntary sports clubs.
“I would expect a concession for sporting bodies. We should make a clear distinction between commercial sporting bodies and those that are not,” he said.
The independent councillor said he supports the fitting of the water meters and the included standing charge of €145 per annum but said he believes voluntary sports’ groups should have a quantity of water included in that price.
Under the current system, all non-domestic consumers of water are liable to pay water and waste-water charges under the Water Services Pricing Policy of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government where they avail of the supply of water and the discharge of waste water.
Each customer is required to pay a standing charge per meter of €145 per annum. The annual meter charge on fragmented agricultural holdings where a customer has two or more meters is €275. This covers the cost to the council of reading and servicing the meter and also includes the costs involved in managing the customer’s account.
Councillor Flynn said he would like to see an allocation of water included in the annual fee for sporting clubs, with them only paying for water used above this threshold.
A free allowance of water for sports clubs, however, is “not an issue we can decide here in Clare County Council” according to Ms Haugh because waivers and allowances would be dictated by national water policy.