The Government's national water services pricing policy framework requires local authorities to recover the cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. It is a matter for each local authority to set the appropriate level of charges for non-domestic users of water services. While my Department does not collect information on individual charges, the policy framework provides only for the recovery of actual costs and charges should be determined having regard to this principle.
At present, local authority water services charges and the process used for calculating non-domestic costs vary. Local authorities are, in accordance with Government policy, moving to a more uniform system for determining and applying these charges. In this regard, the policy framework requires full recovery of the cost of providing water services to the non-domestic sector by means of a meter based volumetric charge. The framework does not provide for the exemption of any non-domestic users, including those engaged in the provision of educational services, from the charging policy. The policy is being progressively implemented in the period to 2006 and is in accordance with an appropriate application of the polluter pays principle and the requirements of Article 9 of the EU water framework directive.
