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Local Authorities Deliver a Fairer Way to
Pay
Sligo County Council’s Kathleen McTiernan
Talks To ‘Business Sligo’ About The New Metering
System For Water Charges, And Gives A Progress
Report On The Council’s Rural Water Programme
Kathleen McTiernan has overseen the
administration of many major capital schemes for
Sligo County Council, and in recent years has
been responsible for the management of the
Council’s Rural Water Programme and the
introduction of the new water metering system in
the county.
Can you outline the background to the new
water metering system?
The water metering project is being undertaken
as part of the Government’s ‘Water Services
Pricing Policy.’, and Sligo was chosen as a
pilot county for the delivery of the new policy.
The main benefit of water metering is that it
will ensure that consumers will enjoy the
benefit of a fair and equitable charging system,
in that they will only pay for water which they
consume. Under the old system, charges were
levied irrespective of usage.
Sligo County Council is in the process of
delivering the new water metering programme for
its non-domestic (business and farming)
customers. As the new system is based on
consumption, it is considered more equitable
than the old ‘fl at’ annual charge which was
levied irrespective of usage.
What charge can the average business
expect to pay?
The fixed annual charge varies according to the
size of the meter. The majority of meters
installed in Sligo are less than 25mm and
the‘low’ rate of €80 will apply in most cases.
The variable (or volumetric) charge is based on
consumption, and is set at €1.13 per cubic
metre. However there is a concession where
the same connection serves a house and business
premises.
How is the concession applied?
The domestic allowance only applies in respect
of “occupied” houses which are on the same
connection as a non-domestic supply, e.g.
house/land, commercial/domestic, B & B or
similar categories.
In cases where the same connection serves a
business premises and an occupied house, a
domestic allowance of 50,000 gallons a year will
be allowed. A rate of €1.13 per cubic metre will
apply above that limit.
How many meters have been installed in
Sligo to date?
Over 4,500 have been installed throughout the
county, with the remaining 900 meters to be
installed over the coming week.
The Water Metering programme is being delivered
on behalf of Sligo County Council by Veolia
Water (Ireland). Under the terms of the
contract, Veolia have responsibility for the
installation, maintenance and reading of the
meters, the issuing of bills and collection of
revenue.
The problem of water wastage should also
be addressed by the new system.
We expect that water metering will be of major
assistance to the Sligo Local Authorities in our
efforts to identify leaks and conserve water. By
and large people realise that water is a scarce
resource and are conscious of using it
sparingly. Now that people are paying for
consumption, I think they will be even more
conscious of the necessity to conserve water.
Customers are advised to check all of your
supply pipes from the public watermains as a
matter of urgency if they have not already done
so. Any leakage between the public watermain and
your house, farm, etc could result in
substantial additional payments if remedial
action is not taken.
I should point out that leaks on the public
watermains are the responsibility of Sligo
County Council. If you happen to notice a leak,
please contact our Water Services Section at St.
Anne’s Place, Sligo – Tel. No. (071) 9111376
How can business people find out more
about water metering, and the implications it
will have for their business?
Sligo County Council and Veolia Water are
hosting a series of information evenings in May
to outline all aspects of water metering for all
non-domestic Night Scene on the river consumers.
The information evenings will be held In Sligo
Park Hotel on Tuesday 16th May, Benbulben Hotel
on Thursday 18th May and Teach Laighne,
Tubbercurry on Friday 19th May. Staff from Sligo
County Council and Veolia will be available to
deal with any queries.
Sligo has featured in recent press
coverage of group schemes – How does the council
propose delivering a quality water supply to our
groups schemes?
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government has allocated a block grant
allocation of €5.25M to Sligo County Council in
2006. This will enable the Council to continue
the delivery of its comprehensive rural water
programme, with the funding being used to
provide small public water and sewerage schemes,
provide grant aid towards the construction of
new group schemes and enable the
takeover/upgrading of some existing group water
schemes.
The current programme of works will see eleven
Private Group schemes throughout the county
benefiting from the construction of new
treatment plants, which will deliver a quality
water supply that meets EU standards.
Who are the key players in terms of
delivering this programme?
The Chairman of our Rural Water Monitoring
Committee, Councillor Gerry Murray, recently
remarked on the excellent working relationship
between the various group schemes, Sligo County
Council, the Department of the Environment and
the National Federation of Group Water Schemes.
‘We are all working towards a common objective,
the delivery of a good quality water supply that
meets the required EU standards.’
How many households will benefit from the
current Group Scheme programme?
Two ‘bundles’ of contracts were signed in County
Hall on the 11th April, 2005 - work on the
provision of the new treatment plants isbeing
carried out by Treatment Services Limited.,
Kilkenny. Commissioning of the plants has
commenced and the plants are expected to be in
operation by
When the current programme of work is completed,
a quality water supply will be delivered to
approximately 1800 households throughout the
county.
With our very busy programme of work in terms of
water metering and our rural water programme, it
promises to be a hectic few months in the
Council’s Water Services Department.
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