Pubs will pay for water as part of city metering plan

LIMERICK publicans will have to pay for supplies of tap water from next September.

Licensed premises will be among about 2,500 commercial premises in the city which will be metered for their water supplies in a conservation drive by Limerick City Council.

A private company, Laing O’Rourke has won the €3.2 million contract to install water meters in business premises throughout the city, and this programme will be completed by September.

From then, each business in the city will have to pay €1.06 for every cubic metre (1,000 litres) of water used. Businesses currently pay fixed charges.

Pat Drummy of Limerick City Council said that, as well as the meter charge, businesses will also have to pay a fixed administrative fee annually, towards the council’s costs.

He said they had yet to decide on how much the fixed charge will be.

Families who live on business premises will get a 50,000 gallon (227,305 litre) free domestic water allowance every year.

Mr Drummy said: “The new metering system will encourage people to conserve water and to repair leakages when they occur. It will heighten awareness of wasting water.”

Laing O’Rourke will carry out a survey of all business premises and their water requirements, as part of the metering process.

While work is being carried out installing meters, water supplies will be cut for a sort period.

Works at each premises, however, will be completed within a day.

The company advised water users that the supply might be discoloured for a period after meters are installed.