Tag Archives: Irish Water

Over 30,000 suspected leaks on customer properties have been identified during Irish Water’s first meter reading cycle. These leaks are wasting an estimated 46 million litres of water every day – enough to fill 18 Olympic size swimming pools –according to Irish Water. Following an early pilot phase, the utility has announced details of the interim First Fix Scheme, a programme designed to help customers to reduce the water wasted through leaks on their property. The Commission for Energy Regulation approved an interim spend by Irish Water of €3.4m to progress the initial stages of the First Fix Scheme. Irish Water has submitted its long term First Fix Policy to the CER, and it will be published for public consultation shortly. The national installation of water meters provides valuable information to identify where leaks are occurring. Following the completion of the first meter reading cycle, Irish Water identified over 30,000 suspected leaks on customer properties. Approximately 7% of all meters …

Forecasts of even bigger water shortages in the midlands and Dublin region will require a substantial increase in the volume of water needed from Lough Derg. Councillor Pat Burke has urged tourism, angling and business people living on the banks of Lough Derg to unite against Irish Water’s plans to increase the proposed diversion of water from the lake. The River Shannon Protection Alliance (RSPA) estimates that up to 350 million litres of water a day could be taken from Lough Derg by 2030, if Irish Water implements previous plans from Dublin City Council to address water shortages in the region. Irish Water had not responded to Clare Champion queries on Wednesday evening. A recent report revealed there is a “pressing need” for an additional supply of some 330 million litres a day by 2050. Options include taking water from the River Shannon and storing it in a reservoir to be built in the midlands, or constructing desalination plants. Dublin and …

The Government should come clean and tell Clare residents how much of its €30.7m paid over in motor tax last year has been handed over to Irish Water to help cover the costs of its “lavish set-up”. That’s the challenge laid down by Clare Fianna Fáil TD, Timmy Dooley. He said,“At a time when people are crying out for real change and more transparency, this Government is raiding the local tax revenues paid over by Clare residents for our roads to prop up Irish Water. This is a failed entity with no public confidence or support. It should not be a further drain on the resources of our people.” Continuing, Deputy Dooley said, “During last year, drivers in Clare paid out €30,764,199 in motor tax. My colleague Sean Fleming has confirmed through meetings of the Public Accounts Committee that €290m from motor taxation nationally was given as a subvention to Irish Water by the Department of Environment last year. I …

The first integrated plan for the delivery of water services in Ireland has been published today (Wednesday) by Irish Water in its draft format for public consultation. The Water Services Strategic Plan (WSSP) sets out the strategies we need to implement as a country in the short, medium and longer term to ensure the availability of safe drinking water, an environment that is protected from the impacts of wastewater discharges, and efficient modern systems that meet the needs of customers, contribute to economic growth and development, and provide value for money. The document addresses six key themes of customer service, clean safe drinking water, effective treatment of wastewater, a sustainable environment, supporting economic growth and investing for the future. “We have never had a national plan for water in Ireland – one that looks at the country as a whole,” said Jerry Grant of Irish Water. Delivering on the WSSP over the next 25 years requires an unprecedented transformation in …

Irish Water, in conjunction with Clare County Council, has signed a contract for the replacement of around 17km of water mains that are in poor condition in Ennis and surrounding areas. The work to be undertaken by Ward and Burke Construction is part of the Clare Water Conservation Water Main Rehabilitation Strategy. The project will involve the installation of 11.8km of new polyethylene and ductile iron water mains at various locations around Ennis town. Additionally, works will include the replacement of 95 backyard and 978 front of house service connections (which includes replacement of 230 lead service connections) and the transfer of 44 service connections to a recently laid water main in Clarecastle, delivering improved levels of water pressure for customers there. A ring water main between Claureen Roundabout, Lahinch Road and Kilrush Road will also be re-commissioned to improve water pressure in those areas. The project will deliver financial savings over the medium and long term, with reduced maintenance …

PAT Madden, a resident of Cúl na Gréine in Shannon, has said he is having no luck with getting Irish Water to repair an apparent leak at his house, which is leading to a colossal waste of water. Speaking about his water meter on Monday, he said, “It went in on November 7 at 11am, I photographed the old meter coming out and the new one coming in. There were 23 litres on the new one which is acceptable for testing and that. They fitted it and went off about their business.” He said that from then on the meter was “ticking away merrily for itself” and it has recorded a massive amount of water, far beyond what his own use could justify. “From the seventh of November until the 24th of January, last Saturday there was 1,586, 000 litres gone down the tubes. You can take out the tiny bit that I use, because I live on my own.” To put …

  Fears have been expressed that a person will suffer a serious injury on a public pathway in Shannon, which has been extensively flooded as a result of a major unresolved leak for months. Residents in Shannon are up in arms of the delay in fixing a leak on a pathway between Dun na Rí and Cluain Aoibheann, which is also used by householders in Rineanna View. Rineanna View resident, Kathleen Doherty warned the huge pool of water, which contained mud and other undesirable material, was a serious health hazard, particularly for young children if they slipped and fell trying to walk through it without realising how deep it was. Ms Doherty complained she couldn’t use this pathway to walk her dogs and can’t understand why it has taken to long to fix. The 72 year- old pensioner warned that anyone who is short sighted could easily fall off the walk caps that were placed on the pathway as a …

The voting shares in Irish Water should  be handed over to the people of Ireland, Clare TD, Michael McNamara has said. Speaking in the Dáil the Labour TD argued that the deciding shares in the future of the company should belong to its customers, therefore guaranteeing its public ownership. “No matter what we do here today, is subject to statute and future Government can change a statute, but if the Minister really wants to make it harder [to privatise Irish Water] then I would suggest that the shareholding held by Ervia be transferred at a given time,” he said. Deputy McNamara suggested handing the shares over to a “consumer co-operative” made up of all the customers of Irish Water. “They are the people that will be most affected by the privatisation, or not, of Irish Water and they are the ones that should control it,” he said. Deputy McNamara also questioned the necessity of increasing the number on the board of …