Irish Water’s figures just don’t add up

The media seems to have completely accepted Irish Water’s 43% figure for payment, and I am at a complete loss as to understand why.

Headline percentages aside, all figures quoted in articles state that Irish Water sent out 1.7 million bills and that 675,000 households have paid.

675,000 bills out of a total of 1,700,000 bills is only 39.7% .