Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2011
139 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made to date in identifying and repairing water leaks throughout the country, with particular reference to the cost accruing to the Exchequer from such leakages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30684/11]
View answerThe primary objective of water conservation is to reduce water loss and leakage in the distribution networks to an economic level and to address high levels of unaccounted for water. Since the national water conservation programme was rolled out in 2003, over €187 million has been specifically invested in water conservation by my Department. In addition, local authorities fund active leakage control, detection and repair from their own operational budgets. Most of the effort to date has been focused on putting in place the water management systems to allow for active leakage control and better planning of mains rehabilitation. Most local authorities have now prepared water mains rehabilitation strategies, which set out the priority mains for replacement and repair over the coming years and provide the platform for accelerated investment in this area over the coming years.
Such investment is a key priority under my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The Programme makes provision for the commencement of water conservation contracts to the value of over €300 million over the programme period. It is estimated that this investment will allow for some 640km of mains to be rehabilitated. Funding is particularly targeted at areas where the level of unaccounted for water is unacceptably high. Over time, this investment coupled with ongoing active leakage control should lead to marked reductions in unaccounted for water and improve service to customers. Progress will continue to be monitored on an annual basis through the local authority service indicators and through the collection of data from local authorities.
A review of the progress under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012 published in July this year, generally indicated the good progress is being made on rolling out this more intensive water mains rehabilitation programme. It is expected that by the end of 2011, some 25 new water mains rehabilitation projects will have commenced.
