Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 5

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Joan Burton

Question:

116 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the steps being taken to deal with the loss of treated water through leakage in water systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16499/03]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gallagher)

On 9 May 2003, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government approved the allocation of over €276 million for the first round of a new national water conservation programme designed to identify and substantially reduce the levels of unaccounted for water in public water supply networks. Over €63 million has been expended since 1997 on 15 pilot water conservation schemes and on preliminary network rehabilitation arising from studies undertaken under those schemes.

The new allocation provides €194 million to allow those 14 city and county councils that have already completed the study phase to carry out necessary major network rehabilitation, water conservation and leakage reduction works identified in the studies; and €82.5 million to allow the remaining 17 city and county councils to commence studies to map out their water supply networks, and to establish the level and sources of unaccounted for water. As part of the study phase, authorities will also undertake pilot water conservation and leakage reduction projects and identify measures to be incorporated in longer-term strategies.