Homeowners may have to pay to replace water pipes

Homeowners may have to pay hundreds of euro to replace water pipes that do not comply with regulations associated with the installation of meters over the next two years.

Pipes not buried deep enough to accommodate the meters, or those in poor condition, will have to be replaced when the meters are installed — and the homeowner is likely to have to foot most or, in some cases, all of the bill.

A survey of every water mains in the country is due to begin shortly. A public utility company, Irish Water, has been established and operates under the control of Bord Gáis.

Irish Water is to take over the operation of local authority water services on a phased basis, starting in 2015. The entire metering programme is expected to be completed at the end of 2016 at a cost of €500m.

Building regulations require that developers of new houses bury service pipes connecting homes to the public mains at a depth of at least 60cm to prevent freezing.

Hundreds ruptured in the winter of 2010, which suggested they were not buried deep enough.

Water mains must be at least 90cm below street level, but there are concerns that some of these may not have been correctly installed.

In cases where the pipes holding the boxes do not comply with the building code, they may have to be replaced.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Communications, Energy, and Natural Resources said: “In the course of the installation of the boundary boxes, it is anticipated that non-standard conditions may be met in some cases, for example if the boundary box cannot be installed because of the depth of the existing pipes or where the pipes are in poor condition.

“Where issues are identified, these will be notified to the relevant local authority which retains ownership and responsibility for the public mains until they are transferred to Irish Water.

“In certain circumstances, it may be advisable to replace the service pipe between the meter and the home. The homeowner is currently responsible for the pipe within the boundary of their property.”

Earlier this year, Environment Minister Phil Hogan said the work of installing meters would be completed by the end of 2014.

However, according to John Mullins, chief executive of Bord Gáis: “It is not just about physically about putting in the meters. We have to commission, we have to test, we have to integrate that with a billing system. It’s not as simple as just about putting in the physical meter.”

Mr Mullins said he did not know what the initial flat rate charge for water would be, as it was a matter for the energy regulator.

However, he said based, on international charges, consumers could be looking at anything between €100 and €400 per annum.

Meanwhile, Minister for Communications, Energy, and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte said no Government decision had been taken on the implementation of a flat charge.