Dáil debates
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Topical Issue Debate
Water Quality Issues
6:55 pm
Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In the past few months the House has witnessed a series of revelations on the Government's plans to introduce water charges and establish what has become a super quango. The exorbitant consultancy costs, the bonus-driven culture, the failure to target investment and infrastructure and the introduction of charges when household incomes are under unprecedented pressure have constituted chronic mismanagement by the Government.
Over the weekend, reports on the threat posed by dangerous levels of lead in water pipes in schools, homes and businesses underlined further the need for investment in the water network. Schools such as Araglin national school in Cork, Garrabane national school in Waterford and Easkey secondary school in Sligo have all been contaminated with excessive levels of lead. EPA surveys across several counties exposed excessive lead levels, with concerns rising in the light of the new stricter requirements. Reports indicate that based on current rates some 55,000 homes may have lead pipes on their premises. The threat of lead water poisoning is a real health danger to homes, schools and businesses consuming contaminated water. Yesterday Irish Water spokespersons dismissed the concerns stating the issue had arisen in 2012 and, essentially, had nothing to do with them as it occurred on private property. They washed their hands of the issue. Irish Water has stated that in cases where lead is detected, it will alert the customer and simply provide HSE advice for households and premises affected. As far as it is concerned, it is a matter for the homeowner to fix the problem. It will cost approximately €1,000 to fix it.
There are two issues I would like the Minister to address. First, the Government has committed to providing a first-fix policy. This means that problems with the pipes from the public mains to the household - essentially the pipes within the household's property - will be fixed for free by the Government. The first-fix policy was designed to help to ease the passage of water charges on the family home. Irish Water's claims that it is none of its business does not stand up against the Government's commitment. Homeowners whose water supply is rendered undrinkable need this support to ensure they get a service that delivers. In the coming weeks when the water charges strategy is fleshed out and confirmed, the first-fix policy should encompass households affected by dangerous lead levels.
The second issue I call on the Minister to address is that of charging for undrinkable water. The water charges consultation period undertaken by the CER in the next few weeks is an opportunity for the Government to ensure people do not have to pay for a service which does not deliver. In places such as Boyle, where people are faced with boiled water notices, there are legitimate questions as to why they have to pay for a service that clearly does not do what it should. Lead levels pose a similar question. Will the Government ensure households affected by lead levels are not forced to bear the burden of water charges when they are reliant on bottled water and other sources to keep themselves going?
It is vital that both issues are fully addressed by the Minister. Amid spiralling costs in the establishment of Irish Water, we need to know that the Government is getting something for the money it is pouring into it. The Minister must, therefore, inform the House of his plans and those of Irish Water and his response to these very serious issues which have arisen not only in recent days but which have been obvious to many in recent months. I ask the Minister to inform the House of how he intends to deal with them.
Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am glad of the opportunity to reassure the House and the public on a number of points relating to water quality, particularly lead exceedences in water supplies. I want the public to be assured that Irish Water is producing lead-free water. It is also producing water at an appropriate pH level to minimise the ability of water to dissolve lead. The public water network is lead-free.
The issue of lead pipes creating a potential risk to water quality arises from communication and service pipes. The communication pipe is Irish Water's responsibility and typically 10% of the total length of the service pipe. There are also incidences of lead piping in what are known as common or shared backyard services. These are often located in private gardens and, in some cases, under building extensions. The only replacement remedy is the provision of a new water main in the street, as well entirely new individual service pipes from the street to the back of each house.
Before one can disconnect the common backyard service, every property has to agree to the new connections. Irish Water has a programme to address this category, reflecting the scale and cost of the work.
Lead exceedances in water is a serious matter and Irish Water is implementing a robust and appropriate water quality monitoring programme, as required under its responsibilities as a national water services authority. This year, it will take and test 250,000 samples of water. Where an exceedance occurs, as has been identified in 31 cases this year, Irish Water notifies the customer and provides health advice from the HSE. Irish Water data suggest the problem relates to less than 5% of houses.
In addition to ensuring that mains are lead-free and implementing mains rehabilitation for backyard services, Irish Water is gaining valuable insight into the state of the network and the location of lead service connections through the domestic metering programme. Irish Water is recording the nature of the network, including lead, at every property that it is metering, thus providing important data for asset management.
The first fix scheme, details of which will be announced shortly, will provide many benefits, including vital assistance to households in tackling customer-side leakage in a speedy manner. The scheme will contribute to reducing the unacceptably high national leakage rate of 40% or more. While the first fix scheme is primarily a water conservation measure, it will also address some of the lead connection pipes on private property.
The spotlight on water quality issues is a reminder of the challenges facing our public water services sector and the need to address deficiencies relating to quality, environmental compliance and leakage. By establishing a national utility which can deliver water services efficiently and effectively and with a national approach, and by increasing investment in our water and waste water infrastructure through a more sustainable funding model for water, we can address these deficiencies and provide a secure supply of high-quality water for society and the economy into the future.
7:05 pm
Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. I note much of what has been said about the ongoing process of investigation and reporting being carried out by Irish Water in addition to the information already in the local authority domain. The Minister has mentioned specifically that Irish Water suggests that the problem relating to lead piping and back-yard systems affects 5% of houses, a substantial number which will require much investment. I refer to the commitment given by the Government before the CER was charged with responsibility in the current ongoing consultation process. I expect the process will ultimately recommend that the Government take cognisance of the fact that where water is undrinkable - in Boyle, among other locations - homeowners should not be asked to pay exorbitant charges.
The Minister says the first-fix scheme is primarily a water conservation measure, but it will also deal with some of the lead connection pipes on private property. Can the Minister expand on that point and be more specific? The point on which I sought clarity relates specifically to the first fix policy to which the Government committed. I expect the commitment is broad in the sense that where householders are informed of the deficiency and it is confirmed by the HSE that there is a contamination issue, rectification is necessary and works must be carried out. It is important that the works are carried out as soon as possible, but the costs associated with it are something we believed the Government would contribute to. For the Minister to say that the Government will address some of the lead connection pipes on private property is commendable in the first instance, but it must go much further than this. I ask the Minister to expand on the point and give assurance and commitment to those affected in such a way that the first fix policy the Government committed to will include people in the unfortunate situation whereby they are informed by the Irish Water or the HSE of a problem that must rectified.
Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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It is interesting that every problem that happens within private property is the responsibility of the State. Where there is a leaking tap or a problem with toilets, the Deputy advocates that the State picks up the tab.
Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am talking about lead.
Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has advocated that, on people's private property and within the house, every leak should be resolved by the State. It would cost an absolute fortune to the taxpayer and I am interested to know the level of income tax or general taxation that would be required to meet that bill. We are certainly not going to do that as part of the first fix policy.
Some €25 million is being spent in County Roscommon to deal with water quality problems that have been neglected for years, and the issue will be resolved for 50% of the population. It is interesting to note that despite all the talk from Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, not one member of those parties made a submission to the CER as part of the public consultation process. It is all talk and no action from the Opposition. We are doing the business for the people of Roscommon and other parts of the country but Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin made no submission with regard to water quality, the boil water notices or their concerns. We will get on with the job in order that we have a public water utility that is able to borrow money on the market to double the level of investment and deal with the under-investment in water and wastewater facilities that we inherited from the Fianna Fáil-led Government. We will discharge our obligations under the water regulations and I am glad to assure the House that no risk to public health arises from the issues in the media yesterday. Deputy Cowen is led by whatever he reads in the newspapers.