Householders whose water supply is unfit for human consumption are expected to receive an immediate 50 per cent discount on their water bills under compensation plans being drafted by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

Following a public consultation process, the CER will announce measures at the end of the month to compensate those whose water supply is not drinkable.

Charges will be levied on water supply, as well as waste-water, and everyone will pay for waste-water, which comprises 50 per cent of the bill, regardless of water supply quality.

Under this system homes with septic tanks installed do not pay for their waste-water services.

Boil water notice

Currently, where a water supply has been declared unfit for human consumption for less than three months the householder gets half off their water input supply, or 25 per cent of the total bill.

Where the supply is unfit for drinking and there is a boil-water notice for more than three months they get a 50 per cent discount off the total bill, or 100 per cent of their inward water supply for free.

While the CER would not comment on any measures it may take, a number of sources said it is expected to propose that full discounts on water supply are offered immediately upon the detection of undrinkable water.

Undrinkable water is expected to be a big issue in the upcoming Roscommon-South Leitrim byelection, where boil-water notices are in place for a number of public water supplies.

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly told the Dáil this week that the regulator is considering the approach to such households.

Tánaiste Joan Burton said in the Dáil yesterday the regulator would make a ruling shortly about contaminated water, which she said “will mean that people on boil-water notices will not have to pay for the delivery of water to their homes”.

No cash payment

“I understand that, following the public consultation process, the regulator is now further considering the approach to compensating households where the water supply is not fit for human consumption,” she said. But the way of compensating households will not include any cash payment.

One source said “CER might be considering lowering boil-water notice limits below three months or credits for people will a bill”, while another said it is “expected that the issue of boil-water notices and the reductions that apply will be closely examined in light of the concerns that have been raised”.

Clear directions

Separately, Irish Water has “categorically” insisted its billing system will be fully operational by January when the first bills will be issued, although they will be backdated from October.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday said people can save on water charges by turning off the tap when they brush their teeth.

Mr Kenny said people underestimated the ways in which they would be able to conserve water.

“People are in control here because you can turn off the tap. From simple things like washing teeth to all of the other things that happen, it is possible to save and conserve huge amounts of water.”

Mr Kenny also said definitive water charges would be issued by the regulator next week.

“I think people underestimate the way that people will be able to save water in so many ways. The regulator will issue very clear directions next week.”

Mr Kenny said people’s “practical, normal” questions about the new regime would be answered then.