Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 529: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if examinations have been undertaken to establish the reason for water shortages in local authority areas despite heavy rainfall; the advice that has been given to local authorities to avoid a recurrence of the problem; the measures that are in place to prevent water shortages following a drought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7935/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is the responsibility of the relevant water services authority to deliver quality public water supplies to meet current and future needs. My Department coordinates and finances a major programme of investment in improved drinking water supply infrastructure, on which some €1.8 billion has been invested by the Government in the period 2000 - 2009. Substantial funding of €508m is being provided this year from the Exchequer for the provision of water services infrastructure.

Continued investment by Government has seen the provision of additional drinking water treatment capacity and additional drinking water storage capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 855,000 and 1.5 million, respectively over the period 2000 – 2008.

The water shortages experienced during the prolonged cold spell in January were primarily due to the damage caused to distribution networks by the freezing weather and the subsequent thaw. The shortages experienced have underlined the need to sustain our efforts in the provision of water services infrastructure and, in particular, the replacement and rehabilitation of older mains. A greater focus on such works will be a key priority of the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, which I expect to publish early this year.

The difficulties experienced this winter point not only to the need for investment in water conservation, but also to the positive role which individual consumers can play in conserving water. There was good consumer response to the calls by water services authorities, which I endorsed, for careful conservation of supplies during the period of shortages.

Apart from providing such information and advice, there are also specific water conservation powers available to water service authorities under Section 56 of the Water Service Act, 2008. This section provides for the issuing of emergency notices to direct an owner or occupier of a premises to limit consumption of a water supply to a specified quantity where an authorised officer of the water services authority is of the opinion that an immediate risk to human health or the environment or to the integrity of the water supply system necessitates such action. This section can also be applied where viability of a water supply service may be under immediate threat because of excessive consumption of water or drought. Regulations giving effect to the provisions of section 56 were made in December 2008 (Water Conservation Regulations, 2008) and my Department issued detailed guidance to water services authorities on the implementation of these regulations in May 2009.