Farm connected to a public supply is liable for water charges, says Kelly

Current local authority standing charges and unit rates for water still apply to non-domestic consumption, such as farm use, despite Irish Water having taken responsibility for public water services.

Any farm connected to a public water supply is liable for charges as a non-domestic customer, said Environment, Community and Local Government Minister, Alan Kelly, in the Dáil.

Responding to a question from Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil TD for Laois-Offaly, Mr Kelly said: “Mixed-use customers will be billed separately for their domestic and non-domestic water services and will have a separate account number for each.”

“The domestic component of their consumption will be charged at the domestic, unmetered charge, based on the number of people living in the home, regardless of whether there is a meter or not. The household and children’s water allowances will apply, subject to completing the application process.”

“The non-domestic component of their consumption will continue to be charged according to the current, non-domestic tariff arrangement.

“In the case of a metered customer, the volume to be charged at the non-domestic rate will continue to be the metered volume in excess of the current local authority domestic allowance”.

He said the Commission for Energy Regulation, which sets water charges, will publish a timeline, before the end of 2014, for reviewing non-domestic water tariffs in a series of public consultations.