Only 2,000 water customers to get bill cut over lead

The number of customers who will be able to claim discounts off their water bill due to lead pipes carrying water to their homes will be “minimal,” according to Irish Water.

It is estimated that only just over 2,000 customers of Irish Water whose water is exposed to lead on the public side of the pipe network are likely to receive discounts off their water bill.

Irish Water confirmed that almost 7,000 customers have been issued with current Water Restriction Notices for a variety of reasons, of which approximately 2,000 relate to lead.

Many of these are based in a few locations including Ennis, Co Clare, Little Island and Cobh in Co Cork, Mountmellick, Co Laois and Bruff, Co Limerick.

Such restrictions were put in place as a result of a nationwide water quality monitoring programme carried out by Irish Water and previously by local authorities.

“These are in relation to lead on the public side only and do not take into account houses with lead plumbing as these are not the responsibility of Irish Water,” said an Irish Water spokesperson. “Discounts apply only in the circumstances where the issue has arisen as a result of the public network.”

The vast majority of the 200,000 households estimated to be affected by lead will not be able to avail of any discount as the affected pipes are contained within their own property.

Irish Water also stated that the discount will only apply to the drinking water element of a customer’s bill as they are expected to pay the normal charge for their wastewater supplies.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly is expected to announce details of a grant scheme for households in the near future following the launch of a national strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water last week.

Homeowners are expected to receive grants of up to €4,000 to replace the pipes inside the boundaries of their property, with families on lower incomes getting the biggest level of funding.

It is estimated that the overall cost of removing all lead pipes from the network could cost up to €300m with the average replacement cost for each household at around €3,000.