Recent News:
Bray Results IBAL Anti Litter League 2011
Bray, joint 11th out of 53 towns/cities surveyed. Litter classification - clean to European Norms.
Appointment of Residential Engineers for River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme
Applications are now invited for the following temporary contract posts (estimated duration 20 months):
Taking in Charge of Roads and Services Various Estates
Notice is hereby given that it is the intention of Bray Town Council to consider making a declaration that the roads described hereunder be made public and to consider taking in charge the roads and services in the estates listed hereunder.
Water Metering
Water supply in Wicklow
Water is the basis for life and the provision of water for public consumption and industry is the obligation of Wicklow County Council. To meet this obligation and to ensure that future needs will be met Wicklow County Council is taking measures to conserve the water provided and to ensure the quality and quantity of this supply
The Non-Domestic Water Metering Project is being undertaken in accordance with the National Water Services Pricing Policy which requires that all non-domestic customers be charged for water and wastewater services on the basis of metered consumption.
A survey undertaken by Wicklow County Council in 2005 identified approximately 4,400 non-domestic users within its catchment area. During the second half of 2006 all of these users will be visited in order to
- confirm their status as non-domestic users
- evaluate existing pipework and
- install the meter and automatic meter reading system
Wicklow County Council will operate the system and will bill all non-domestic users based on the volume of water consumed as recorded by the new metering system.
Who will be doing the work?
Wicklow County Council, on behalf of Greystones, Wicklow, and Arklow Town Councils, has contracted Coffey Construction Ltd. to undertake the task of installing the necessary meters, developing a database of non-domestic users and integrating the metering system into the existing billing structure within the County. All of this work will be overseen by a Project Team within Wicklow County Council to ensure that the work is undertaken with the minimum of disruption to the water users.
How will the work proceed?
- Non-domestic customers will shortly be contacted by the contractor's surveyors to confirm the non-domestic status and to obtain basic information required for the customer billing database.
- Non-domestic customers will be notified as to the period that their supply may be disrupted in order to facilitate the installation of the new meters.
- Non-domestic customers will be advised as to the expected period of possible disruption of supplies.
- The contractor will design and install all the new meters and reinstate the ground when complete.
- The contractor will provide and commission all new meter-reading equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Why am I receiving a bill when I have never been charged before?
Under the National Water Pricing Policy and in keeping with the EU policy and Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive, all Local Authorities are required to achieve universal metering of all non-domestic water services customers by the end of 2006. Any customer that has a connection to a public supply where the subsequent water use is not 100% for domestic purposes is classified as a non-domestic customer. These include farms, offices, factories, schools, shops, restaurants, public houses, and commercial activities within domestic residences.
Where will the meters be installed
The meters and their boxes will be placed at the property boundary to ensure that maintenance and servicing can be undertaking with a minimum of disruption to the user. The Contractor will be obliged to minimise the size of the excavation required for the installation and then reinstate the excavation upon completion. Where installation cannot be undertaken at the property boundary the installation will be made at the most suitable location agreed following consultation with the property owner. If there is an existing meter box then no excavations will be required.
How will non-domestic and domestic users on the same service be charged?
Where there is a mixed use of domestic and non-domestic activities within a premises supplied through a common water pipe, a domestic allowance will be subtracted from the total usage in order to determine the non-domestic usage subject to billing.
What if I have a leak?
A leak on the customer side of the meter will be recorder as consumed water and will be charged accordingly. It is therefore in the interest of all non-domestic users to check their internal piping and fittings for leakages. Wicklow County Council is continually evaluating its own network to find leaks and reducing water losses thereby imiproving network management to maximise levels of service.
How will non-domestic water charges be determined?
The charging of water relates to the volume of water actually consumed to cover the
- Cost of providing the water
- Cost of managing and maintaining the networks of pipe involved
- The cost of treating the resultant wastewater
Water charges will be based on the cost associated with providing water and wastewater services. Setting of these charges will be clear and transparent.
How can I reduce my bill?
Non-domestic billing will be based on the water used therefore any changes undertaken to minimise water usage or programmes introduced to reuse water will directly impact on the bills received. Consumption can be reduced by:
- developing a water management plan within the workplace
- involving all staff and making everyone aware of conservation
- replacing worn out or broken equipment with systems that are water efficient.
- considering the use of tap aerators or flow regulators which are easily fitted attachments which can reduce usage from a tap by as much as half.
- setting up a reporting procedure for leakages and water losses in the workplace then fixing all leaks and by making repairs as soon as is possible. A leaking tap looses on average one litre per hour or up to 10,000 litres per year
- turning off any unnecessary flows and equipment when not in use and ensuring water pressures and flows are at minimum required settings. A dishwasher cycle uses on average 50 litres if the machine is full and the same amount if it is only half full.
Contact us
Wicklow County Council have provided a dedicated general queries contact phone number for the duration of the works.
The project team can be contacted at 0404 20185 or alternatively by email at ndwmp@wicklowcoco.ie.
Wicklow County Council will take all reasonable steps to deliver the highest standards of service and every effort will be made to minimise disruption or inconvenience to customers.