Madam, – Ireland’s water infrastructure is clearly in need of major investment to reduce the massive waste of treated water through leakages. The Government should fast-track these repairs to illustrate its commitment to improved service delivery before the introduction of consumption-based charges. Fixed monthly charges for water, however temporary, would only exacerbate the culture of entitlement to this scarce, expensive resource, leading to increased waste and shortages.
Having grown up with water charges as part of everyday life in South Africa, I can’t help but refer the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, to the water management approach and charges applied by a city like Johannesburg. Serving a population of around three million people in a water-scarce environment, the city succeeds in providing some of the cleanest, safest and healthiest water in the world. Each household is allocated a free water allowance of 6,000 litres per household per month, after which each kilolitre attracts a charge of between €0.60 and €1.80 depending on total volumes used in the month. Households can also apply for an indigent rating according to the city’s poverty index, which would result in additional free water allowances per month.
Ireland is not the first country to introduce water charges. Surely we can learn from other world-class cities to get it right the first time? – Yours, etc,