Council turns off traders’ taps in crackdown on ‘water spongers’

A LOCAL authority has cut off the water to city businesses under a new get-tough approach to “water spongers”.

Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and garages in Cork city who have not paid their water charges were among the first to be disconnected by the city council this week.

Some owe thousands of euro and have been in arrears for a number of years, said Michael O’Brien, head of the council’s environment section.

He said a significant minority of the city’s 4,000 non-domestic waters users are being targeted for disconnection. The policy will continue in the coming weeks unless those who still owe money pay up, he warned.

“Those affected have been well aware for a number of months that they were going to be disconnected,” said Mr O’Brien.

“We’ve had meetings with them, they have been verbally warned and they have been written to at least three times.

“We are now invoking the ultimate sanction.

“They are no longer customers of ours. We do not negotiate with non-customers. We only negotiate with customers.”

Those who have been disconnected can apply for reconnection.

But they must pay either a €200 or €600 reconnection fee and clear their account in full, Mr O’Brien said.

He said the council is just like any other public service utility, and, while the policy of disconnections is regrettable, it is necessary.

“We give good value for money. We provide water of the highest quality. But we can’t operate a system without maximising our income,” he said.

“We don’t condone water sponging. This is about social equity. Why should those who pay subsidise those who don’t? We have to have financial stability.”

Mr O’Brien urged those still in arrears to contact the council and clear their accounts.

Cork Business Association spokesman James O’Sullivan said water charges are exorbitant.

“We would hope that the city council would look on each case on its own merits and in a lenient way rather than cutting off this lifeline,” he said.

City manager Joe Gavin last October warned businesses that water would be cut off to commercial users unless bills were cleared, after it emerged that the sector was withholding almost €7 million in unpaid water charges.

A significant amount of money flowed in after the warning. It is understood that between €2m and €3m is still outstanding.

It is also understood that groups such as clubs and voluntary organisations, who are classed as commercial water users, and domestic water users, will not be affected by the new get-tough approach.

It costs the city almost €21m to run its water supply, collection and treatment programme. Income from the city’s commercial water users accounts for 36% of the income needed to run the system.

A commercial users metering programme, currently being rolled out across the city, will be complete by the end of the year.