The Water Services Acts 2013 provide that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the independent economic regulation of Irish Water. In particular, the CER will be responsible for approving the water charges plans prepared by Irish Water, and for approving codes of practice to be prepared by Irish Water. The primary role of the Regulator will be to protect the interests of customers and to ensure a consistent and appropriate level of service is provided to them. In discharging its functions, the CER proposes to undertake a public consultation on the approach to the design of domestic water tariffs during 2014.
Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations, 2007, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water they supply is wholesome and clean and meets the quality standards specified in the Schedule to the Regulations, water which is wholesome and clean is defined as water which is free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances which in numbers or concentrations constitute a potential danger to human health. Hard water and the minerals associated with hard water, such as calcium and magnesium, are not included as parameters in the quality standards specified in the Regulations as they do not pose as a threat to human health. Even though hard water is safe to drink and meets the required drinking water standards, some households may choose to soften their supply but this is a matter of personal choice.
