Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2014
543. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the data, analysis and methodology used by both his Department and Irish Water to calculate leakage rates across the water infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37937/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water has advised that the majority of leaks are underground on both public mains and on customers’ supply pipes, requiring significant effort and specialist technology to find them.
Water usage is monitored using district bulk meters (DBMs) linked to central telemetry. Flow is monitored and collated based on usage patterns and population. Daily inputs are calculated for non-domestic usage, estimates for domestic usage, estimates for private side losses and the balance was referred to as “unaccounted for water” which was assumed to be leakage. This methodology underpins the leakage/unaccounted for water data included in the annual Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) Service Indicators report. The most recent of these is the Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2012 Report, which was published in March 2014. This report is available on the LGMA’s website at: http://www.lgcsb.ie/sites/default/files/service_indicators_2012_report_for_website_0.pdf.
Irish Water is now collecting relevant information from each local authority and planning on a national basis. Reducing and controlling leakage requires good information, expert knowledge, specialist equipment and rigorous management. The establishment of Irish Water has made it possible to take an integrated national approach and Irish Water is committed to moving to a proactive approach with the long-term objective of ultimately reducing public and customer side leakage nationally by over 50%.
The installation of domestic water meters is the first significant step for effective management of domestic water supplies by providing the means to quantify the actual volumes of water utilised in areas where meters are installed. This is allowing for a more accurate determination of leakage as actual data is being used to replace estimates. The meters are also identifying significant customer side leaks. This in turn results in Irish Water being able to refine asset investment to the worst performing public mains.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
