Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
310. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on providing grants to community centres and community sports centres to install rainwater harvesting systems in order to reduce their usage of treated water; the reason such supports are not in place at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11937/21]
View answerPromoting the efficient and sustainable use of water is a central component of effective water policy. The Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025 sets out the range of policy objectives across the key thematic areas of quality, conservation and future proofing that will be pursued between now and 2025. The Policy Statement supports the promotion of water conservation and water resource management as an important element of water services policy that is to be reflected in strategic investment planning by Irish Water. For the period of the Policy Statement, this will involve the prioritisation of multifaceted programmes around leak detection and repair, network improvements, cost effective metering, public awareness campaigns and funding to the 'Find and Fix' scheme for addressing domestic customer leaks.
The concentration on leakage reduction first and foremost will ensure the greatest return on capital investment in terms of the overall impact on conserving water supplies and reducing the overall demand for treated water. Accordingly, there are no plans at present to introduce a grant scheme along the lines suggested.
It is worth noting that non-domestic customers of Irish Water, including community centres and sports centres, are charged by Irish Water for their use of water services based on their actual metered consumption. This is in keeping with Ireland's obligations under the Water Framework Directive. It is understood that some sports organisations may already have arrangements in place to capture and store rainwater for use for purposes (such as watering green areas) which do not require potable water. By doing so they are conserving the use of treated water and reducing their water bills. It is a matter for the property owners or trustees concerned to consider whether rainwater harvesting makes economic sense in their particular case.
It may be helpful to note that while water sustainability systems (e.g. rain water recovery systems, grey water usage, etc.) are not mandatory, they are being used increasingly in homes and buildings, and my Department has ensured that appropriate standards are referenced under Part H – Drainage and Waste Water Disposal – of the Building Regulations and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document H 2010. My Department also publishes design guidance for local authorities - Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities – which emphasises environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. The influence of this guidance extends beyond social housing provision to provide an important reference point in promoting sustainability issues generally.
