Transcript Water Services Investment Programme

National Investment in
Water and Waste Water
Infrastructure, Funding &
Pricing
Mid-West Regional Authority
Annual Conference 2009
Purpose of the Water Services
Investment Programme (WSIP)

The largest component of the Water Services
Programme and it delivers the investment for all
major public water & waste water infrastructure
schemes
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Department is responsible for prioritising,
approving, scheduling and financing individual
schemes
Purpose of the Water Services
Investment Programme

Water Services Authorities (WSAs) are
responsible for design, procurement, contract
supervision and post-completion, for operation
and maintenance

WSAs also responsible for collecting nondomestic capital contributions
Objectives of the WSIP

WSIP is a major element of the Government
strategy for environmental sustainability (esp. re
water quality)

Compliance with Urban Waste Water Treatment
Directive
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Compliance with Water Framework Directive
Objectives of the WSIP

Conservation and leakage reduction
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Improving drinking water quality to ensure
compliance with EU Drinking Water Directive
(and the ECJ Ruling against Ireland)
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Targeted investment for EPA’s Remedial Action
List (RAL) of quality deficient drinking water
schemes which will require capital investment for
upgrading and increasing treatment capacity
Past Achievements
€3.6 billion was spent between 2000-2006
(including €500 million non-Exchequer)
 357 major water and waste water schemes
completed (inc. Ringsend)
 Infrastructure supported residential and
economic development
 River and lake water quality improved
significantly & highest ever number of Blue Flags

WSIP 2007-2009
Current WSIP made up of 955 projects, with
overall capital value of €5.8 billion.
Particular measures include:
 Dealing more efficiently with cryptosporidium
 Meeting the e-coli standard in a small number of
public water supplies
 More pro-active mains leakage control and
rehabilitation and other water conservation
measures
Future Investment Pressures

Many public water supply networks have little or
no spare capacity
 Continuing weaknesses in water distribution
networks leading to significant losses through
leakage
 Increasing need to protect water quality in our
rivers and lakes
 Existing waste water treatment systems require
upgrading to meet national and EU standards
Future Investment – Needs
Assessment
Request for needs assessment for new WSIP to
issue later this year, based on:
 Continuing need to ensure compliance with EU
and national requirements
 Focus on the NSS Gateways and Hubs
 Contributing to economic recovery and job
creation
Future Investment – Needs
Assessment

Environmental sustainability, e.g. conservation
and leakage reduction
 Ongoing investment to address the EPA’s RAL
list
 Need to take account of licences being issued
by the EPA under the Urban Waste Water
Discharge Regulations
Strategic Planning
Section 36 of the Water Services Act 2007
provides for the making of Strategic Plans (SPs)
for water services to:
 Protect human health and the environment
 Facilitate the provision of sufficient water
services for domestic and non-domestic
requirements
 Support proper planning and sustainable
development
Strategic Planning
SPs should include information regarding the
following:
 Drinking water quality
 The prevention of risk to human health or the
environment
 Current and projected demand for water
services
 Arrangements in place or planned for the
provision of water services
Strategic Planning
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Any shortfalls in the provision of water services
Water conservation measures
Monitoring arrangements
Asset management
Financial matters
Funding Future Water Investment

Government's commitment to capital funding
evident from 2009 allocation
 Development contributions fall-off will be a factor
in the future
 Essential that pricing policy (requiring nondomestic sector to pay marginal capital cost) is
fully implemented
Funding Future Water Investment

LAs will need to be rigorous when planning new
investment capacity - are population projections
realistic?
 Reduced tender prices should have a positive
benefit
 LAs should engage with industries discharging
to sewer to establish realistic design capacities
and ensure industry is fully aware of the costs
involved
Water Charges & Meeting the Cost
of Service Provision
Government policy – domestic customers cannot
be charged for water services
 Policy requires that for all other customers the
cost of providing service to be recovered in full
 Metering of non-domestic sector nearing
completion

Water Charges & Meeting the Cost
of Service Provision
Average charge in 2008 was €2.07 per cubic
metre – average in 2007 was €1.71
 EU average in 2007 was €3.25 (and some
exceeded €5)
 Exchequer funding from the Local Government
Fund for domestic sector?
 Collection rates for non-domestic charges,
conservation and demand reduction
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Water Services – Future Issues
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WSIP to be subject of a Value for Money Study
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Long-term water supply issues (GDA, Forfas)
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Water conservation – need to reduce leakages
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Water Framework Directive – improving water
quality, River Basin Management Plans
Water Services – Future Issues

Urban Waste Water Discharges – compliance
with EPA licences and conditions therein
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Protection of public health – incident
management planning
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Responding to ECJ Cases (Septic Tanks)
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Funding – capital and current?
Thank You
Ivan Grimes
Water Services Policy
Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government