The installation of water meters for private households has got underway in Castlebar this week. Mayo County Council were given a presentation on water metering by Eoghan Ó Neachtain from Irish Water at Monday’s meeting of the local authority, where he informed them that the installation of meters had begun in the county town as of that day. Prior to his presentation, Mr Ó Neachtain informed the members that decisions about policy matters made in relation to Irish Water were not matters that Irish Water had control over, as it was a decision of the politicians and Government. But a number of councillors still put forward a number of questions in relation to the policy decisions.
Councillors raised concerns about whethere group schemes would be metered and how. Mr Ó Neachtain informed them that group schemes would not be metered unless they took a supply from the public mains and then there would be a bulk meter installed at the top of the scheme and they would be billed on the bulk meter. The councillors also questioned as to who would carry out emergency repairs to major leaks if they occurred and if the current level of service in regard to this would be maintained. County manager Peter Hynes told them that the local authority would act as an agent for Irish Water and the current level of service would be expected to be retained.
The issue of the group schemes, which had shortfalls and bad years due to leaks, and would there be latitude or discretion given to Irish Water to have a write down on the money owed by the scheme, as was currently provided by the council, was raised by Cllr Gerry Murray, who was told that such a decision would be made by the regulator when it was given powers to do so. The power in relation to disconnections and hardship cases would also come under the regulator’s remit, the members were informed.
There were also questions as to what would happen to current water schemes that the council had planned to put in place when Irish Water comes into control of the system at the start of next year. County manager, Peter Hynes told the meeting that the council was still the water authority for Mayo until January 1 2014, and it would continue to push forward with a number of plans and hoped to have projects pushed beyond the point of no return by that date so they would have to go ahead.
It was also asked what would happen the current assets owned by the council in relation to water supply, to which the members were told that it’s likely that the assets and the loans outstanding will be transferred to Irish Water’s ownership.
Mr Ó Neachtain also told the meeting that with meter installation taking place, people should be aware that under no circumstances would Irish Water staff need to enter a house or ask for money and the people should be aware of that. He informed them that people would be informed 14 days beforehand that the installation will take place in the coming days and again two days beforehand, that Irish Water would be installing a meter outside their property on publicly accessible land.
