€276m upgrade to plug leakages of drinking water

THE country’s water supply infrastructure is to be upgraded to plug the leakage of millions of litres of drinking water every year. The first phase of a new water conservation programme to is to cost €276m.

A study discovered almost half of the country’s treated water supply did not reach users’ taps due to leakages and metering deficiencies.

Over 1.6 million cubic metres of water are produced every day.

Environment Minister Martin Cullen said government investment was also aimed at heightening public aware of a valuable resource.

“Consumers cannot afford to be over indulgent, using water like confetti at a wedding,” he said.

The minister approved €194m for 14 local authorities which had implemented schemes on water conservation and leakage reduction.

A further €82.5m is available to local authorities to begin studies on water supply networks and to undertake pilot schemes to trace unaccounted for water.

Mr Cullen conceded that national and local government studies showed significant quantities of water from treatment plants were being wasted every day.

A National Water Study, published two years ago, estimated up to 47% of all water produced by treatment plants was unaccounted for with the wastage levels much higher in many parts of the country.

“It represents an unsustainable and unacceptable drain on the resources of the taxpayer, local authorities and on the environment, itself,” he said.

The minister said investment would help to improve water pressure levels and water quality. Local authorities were also urged to enforce legislation against consumers who waste water. “Local authorities have the necessary powers,” he said, “there are provisions for fines and ultimately disconnection”.

A number of local authorities, which instituted water conservation schemes in the 1990s, have significantly reduced water waste, it emerged.

In Dublin, UFW (unaccounted-for-water) rates fell from 42.5% to 28.7% while Donegal’s water wastage was reduced from 59% to 39%.

Underlining the scale of water usage, the minister said that the daily volume of water which was consumed in the greater Dublin area, alone, would fill Croke Park to a level five metres higher than the Cusack Stand.

However, almost one-third of the 7,200 km-long water supply pipeline in the Dublin region is between 60 and 100-years-old.

The minister added: “Consumers must be vigilant that potential gains from infrastructural water conservation measures are not lost through carelessness.”