The Government’s National Water Pricing Policy Framework requires the charging of non-domestic customers of water services so as to recover the full costs of providing such services to these customers. In County Sligo for many consumers as in other parts of Ireland, the issue has become a major topic for discussion and is subject to much objection from many stakeholders.
Sligo County Council delivers 38 million litres of water a day to homes, schools, businesses, farms and others. Consumers are provided with water from 10 public water supply schemes. It has to be distributed through a network of 1,500 Kilometres. A county-wide GSM telemetry system which included flow, pressure and depth monitoring at over 80 sites throughout the county was completed in March 2007. The water system in County Sligo serves 59,000 people through 7000 service connections. Charges have been applied to the non-domestic sector on a metered basis since the 1st January, 2006. Approximately 25% of the non-domestic customers are commercial and the remainder are agricultural. The charge for water in 2008 is 1.27 per m3 and wastewater is
1.03m3
This research project proposal aims to address this by establishing a baseline study of water supply and consumption in the county by monitoring a selection of users across a number of categories (domestic, farm, business, group/private/public water scheme, metered/non-metered). Proposals will be drawn up to develop sustainable water supply and consumption systems for domestic, farm and business use.
The project outcomes will be disseminated in collaboration with Sligo County Council Project Aims:
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Review existing data on water management in Sligo and best practice from around the world.
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Carry out a baseline study of water supply and consumption in the county by monitoring a selection of users across a number of categories (domestic, farm, business, group/private/public water scheme, metered/non-metered).
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Draw up proposals to develop sustainable water supply and consumption systems for domestic, farm and business use.
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Disseminate project outcomes in collaboration with Sligo County Council.