Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Water Meters Installation

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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508. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a water meter and water leakage in respect of a property, details supplied, in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35750/14]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it was always anticipated that in the course of installing meters, pre-existing leaks and other latent defects due to the age or condition of the water pipes would be discovered. It should not be assumed that these leaks are caused by Irish Water's contractors. The meter installation programme gives Irish Water a strong starting point for mains rehabilitation by enabling the discovery of pre-existing leaks and helping to target more effective investment in leak repair.

My Department has been informed by Irish Water that the individual in question contacted Irish Water following the metering installation works in his area and reported a leak on his property. This complaint was passed to the relevant regional contractor GMC Sierra, who investigated the complaint and has provided a report to Irish Water. During the meter installation works in the area concerned, the contractor was unable to locate the outside stop valve for the property in question and as a result no meter box or water meter was installed on this property's water supply pipe. Upon investigating this complaint, the contractor determined that the visible leak on the private property must be due to a separate leak on the property's own water supply connection.

Under the Water Services Act 2007, the homeowner is responsible for the water supply pipe on their premises. The Government has agreed to provide funding to Irish Water for a free first fix scheme. Under this scheme, Irish Water intends to assist customers in this situation by identifying and repairing leaks on their property (external to the dwelling) and otherwise offering advice on approaches to resolving leaks and saving water in the premises. The details of this scheme are currently being developed and it is expected it will be available to Irish Water customers from early 2015.

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