Government have undermined Irish Water

So the Government recognises that local authorities have made a dog’s dinner of the supply of domestic water, setting up an autonomous, Irish Water corporation. A poisoned chalice, is it not?

Having mandated Irish Water to fix the hodge-podge of water supply hardware and to supply water fit for purpose, they undermine the new corporation by meddling in water pricing policy. Water infrastructure costs.

It follows those tapping into that hardware should pay at least the cost of servicing that fixed, or growing cost — the reason for a standing charge. As supply of water, and the processing of waste water, costs in proportion to usage, a unit charge for water is patently obvious.