Schools warn over water use fines

SCHOOLS and businesses have warned against unfair fines and sanctions being imposed on them under new Government water conservation rules.

The regulations in the 2007 Waste Services Act have just been signed into action by Environment Minister John Gormley and could lead to fines on homeowners who ignore hose-pipe bans.

As well as giving local councils the power to order specific premises to rectify unrepaired pipe leaks, wastage or excessive water consumption, they allow for notices to be issued to particular trades or businesses.

Schools, for example, could be told to ensure that automatic flushing mechanisms for toilets are turned off during holidays. But any school or business which fails to comply with a notice could face prosecution and a fine of up to €5,000.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), however, said it is misguided and insulting to bring in rules which could lead to schools being fined when the Department of Education has failed to invest in buildings for decades.

“Many schools have leaks, inadequate washing facilities and run-down toilets. There should be a national programme of upgrading schools before any penalties are considered,” said INTO general secretary John Carr.

The business community is also concerned that it could become an easy target for notices to reduce water use, something they say has been evident in terms of orders in relation to waste water.

“We all need to conserve our water usage but there is a fear that business, being the biggest users and because they are already being metered in most council areas, might be the ones to receive most notices,” said Donal Buckley, employers’ group IBEC’s head of business infrastructure.

The notices that councils can issue can be appealed to the District Court but there is provision for emergency notices which cannot be appealed.

Fines of €125 can also be imposed if there is a breach of any order issued by a local authority to restrict or ban certain uses of waters in times of shortages.

Usages that can be restricted include watering gardens, parks or sports grounds, washing cars and trailers, filling swimming pools, ponds and lakes, and irrigating or spraying crops.

The Department of the Environment said an outright ban on the irrigation or spraying of crops is not intended but that it might be appropriate to limit such activities to evening or night, when losses through evaporation is minimised.

Schools had been paying metered charges in many areas until the Government introduced a uniform water charge in late 2007.

The figure is €4 per pupil this year but will be based on every school’s actual usage from January 1, 2010.