Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he intends to introduce in relation to water conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9920/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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While local authorities are responsible for the operation and maintenance of their public water supply systems, my Department has undertaken a number of initiatives over the years to assist authorities to optimise the management, quality and efficiency of such systems.

In 1996, following publication of the greater Dublin water supply strategic study, a new capital funding line was introduced to help reduce unaccounted for water levels in local authority distribution networks, to improve the quality of supply to consumers, to lower operating costs and to maximise the value of investment in capital works. A series of pilot schemes to identify potential improvements, as well as some physical work on network rehabilitation, was undertaken as a first measure. Project locations included Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, Athlone and Clonmel. All of these schemes have now been completed with the aid of capital funding of €63 million from my Department. The results show that unaccounted for water rates have reduced considerably. For example, in Dublin they have fallen from 42.5% to 28.7%, in Donegal from 59% to 39%, in Meath from 47% to 34% and in Kilkenny from 45% to 29%.

The results of my Department's subsequent national water study, which involved an audit of all public water supplies outside the greater Dublin area serving more than 5,000 consumers, were published in March 2000. The study examined 91 water supply schemes operated by some 38 local authorities and reported on all aspects of water supply including availability of raw water, treatment capacity, water distribution systems and associated management issues. It found, inter alia, that unaccounted for water levels varied significantly between regions but were generally in the range of between 40% to 50%.

In May 2003 the Department allocated a further €276 million to local authorities to identify and substantially reduce unaccounted for water in public supply networks. The bulk of the allocation, €194 million, was provided for network rehabilitation or replacement works by authorities that had carried out water management system studies under the earlier pilot phase. The balance of €82 million will enable the remaining authorities to complete water management system studies as a necessary precursor to structural rehabilitation works. In November 2005, I increased the recoupment available to local authorities from the Department for certain water conservation activities from 75% to 90% to encourage and facilitate greater progress on the national water conservation programme generally. Details of allocations to individual authorities are set out in my Department's water services investment programme 2005-07, which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Detailed information on the cost of unaccounted for water in the public water supply system generally is not available in my Department. There are variations in the production costs of water between local authorities and, in addition, not all unaccounted for water is lost through leakage. A significant proportion relates to unauthorised or unrecorded connections. The universal metering of all non-domestic consumers which is scheduled for completion by end 2006, coupled with the local authorities' ongoing water management system studies, will significantly improve the range of data available in this area and further help to reduce the levels of unaccounted for water.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which has been made on the leak detection project for water supplies in the greater Dublin area since it commenced; the further work which is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9921/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Exchequer funding for leak detection works and other infrastructural measures to improve the management of water supplies in the Dublin region was provided under my Department's water services investment programme as part of the Dublin region water conservation project between 1996 and 2000 during which unaccounted for water levels were reduced from 42% to below 29%. Following completion of this project in 2000, the local authorities concerned have assumed ongoing responsibility for leakage detection and repair as an operational function. Further information in this regard may appropriately be sought from Dublin City Council which is acting as lead authority for the region.

A further allocation of €118.3 million has been provided under my Department's water services investment programme 2005-07 for the rehabilitation of defective and unserviceable water mains in the Dublin region as part of a national water conservation sub-programme. I understand that Dublin City Council, also acting as lead authority in this case, has now appointed consultants to produce contract documents and to oversee the implementation of the relevant works in the region.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the current water supply demand in the greater Dublin area; the sources which currently supply that demand; the projected need up to 2010; the courses which will satisfy that demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9922/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The current output of the water production plants in the greater Dublin area — including Kildare, Meath and Wicklow — is approximately 582 million litres per day. The main water treatment plants providing water to the region are located at Ballyboden, Ballymore Eustace, Leixlip and Vartry.

A range of projects to further expand capacity is being advanced under my Department's water services investment programme 2005-07. These include the Kildare Wellfield development, the Leixlip water treatment plant extension, Navan water supply scheme, Wicklow town water supply scheme and the expansion of the Ballymore Eustace water treatment plant. The Ballymore Eustace scheme will increase capacity by a further 44 million litres per day. A recently completed interim upgrade to the plant has already secured 22 million litres per day of this increase. In addition, the programme includes funding to support the identification of new sources to meet projected demand in the greater Dublin area up to 2031.

Since 1996, over €55 million has been spent on ongoing water conservation works in the region to reduce unaccounted for water and water losses in the distribution system. These measures, taken together, are designed to ensure the availability of adequate water supplies to meet the needs of the greater Dublin area in the medium term.