Galway firms to foot water bill despite Roche promise

BUSINESSES in Galway face a bill of about €1 million in water charges for the five months during which the supply was infected with cryptosporidium.

This despite a promise by ormer environment minister Dick Roche to waive all, or part of, the fees while the water was undrinkable.

But the amendment to the Water Services Bill, which was promised when the crisis first broke, failed to make it through the Dáil before it was dissolved in May.

About 4,000 businesses are angry they have to pay water charges,.

Galway City Council agreed to allow businesses a 10% reduction for the entire year. But the Galway Chamber of Commerce believes a reduction of 40% would be more appropriate.

Yesterday chief executive Michael Coyle said Mr Roche broke his promise:

“If you count the number of days Galway was without water, it is around 40% of 365 days, so we should have been granted a 40% reduction,” he said.

There is concern the council may not be able to grant a further reduction, because members have voted on the 10% discount and are legally not entitled to vote on the same matter twice in the same year.

Galway city and some parts of the county are able to drink tap water again after the boil notice was lifted on Monday.

But businesses and householders are counting the cost of the crisis, estimated at €15million, from buying bottled water and through a loss of trade.