Irish Water meter contracts went to US and Germany as no Irish firms tendered

Irish Water is installing meters supplied by companies in the United States and Germany. It has emerged that no Irish company tendered for the contract.

The utility has also confirmed that, where possible, it will reuse water meters already installed before its programme began in 2013. However, in most cases it expects to replace existing units.

"There are two suppliers of water meters for the Irish Water metering programme: Diehl and Itron. The contracts were advertised and awarded in full compliance with EU public procurement rules, " an Irish Water spokeswoman said.

“Contracts were awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender criterion. No Irish company responded to the tender process. We cannot give the per unit cost as this is commercially sensitive.”

15-year design lifespan

Last month, Irish Water confirmed that the design lifespan of its domestic water meter is about 15 years.

“This depends on its usage being within normal domestic use operational limits and factors such as the quality of water passing through the meters,” the company said.

The first phase of the domestic metering programme began in August 2013 and will be completed by mid-2016.

To date, more than 500,000 meters have been installed, with as many as 33,000 installations completed every month.

Technologies

Irish Water has committed to reusing previously installed meters where possible but will have to dispose of units that are not compatible with its meter-reading technologies.

“Existing water meters and meter boxes have typically been installed as a condition of planning,” the company said.

“In some cases the planning authority only requested a meter box be installed, while in other cases the installation of a meter box and meter was required.

“Irish Water is committed to reusing previously installed meter boxes where possible. Our contractors examine each case to establish if existing meter boxes can be reused. In most cases we expect to replace an existing meter with a new meter that is compatible with our meter-reading technologies.

“Where it is not possible to reuse them, for example due to insufficient depth of cover, the meter box is removed and replaced. Where existing meter boxes and meters are removed they are disposed of in the most sustainable manner possible.”

As of last week, 1.1 million households of the 1.9 million in the State had registered their details with Irish Water ahead of the commencement of billing in April.

About 79 per cent of those registered, or 869,000 households, are on the public water main and therefore customers of Irish Water.