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Water Meters Installation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 May 2014

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Questions (297)

Barry Cowen

Question:

297. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the water meters installed by Irish Water use a pulse device; the way they are read by Irish Water and by residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20038/14]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme.

The water meter installation programme began in August 2013, and will be implemented nationally as quickly as possible. Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that each water meter has a low power radio unit fixed to the top which enables it to be read periodically from a passing van. This is what is known as Automatic Meter Reading (AMR). The AMR is dormant until the meter is read when it is activated only for the purpose of taking the meter read. Irish Water has procured meters and radio units that comply with all relevant European and international standards designed to protect the health and safety of customers and the public.

Irish Water reads the meter using the AMR technology, as described above. The meter reading will then be provided to the householder as part of the billing process. As such, it is not anticipated that the householder will need to read the meter. However, it is possible for the householder to take their own meter reading if they wish to do so. All Irish Water meters are metric meters, measuring water volume in cubic meters (1 cubic meter = 1000 litres = approximately 220 gallons).

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