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IRISH WATER SAYS it has now installed 755,000 meters across the country as part of its metering programme.
The utility’s head of asset management, Jerry Grant, told TDs and Senators that this involved the installation of 645,000 water meter boundary boxes over the last few years.
The other 110,000 meters were installed in existing boundary boxes. Grant explained that almost all of the meters were installed in “deep down areas” of footpaths outside houses and buildings.
He said that of the hundreds of thousands of boundary boxes installed so far, just 14 had failed with most failures relating to worksmaship and the strength of the cover.
However, independent TD Micheal Healy-Rae claimed the actual number of broken boxes was at least 15. He said that the grade C boxes that Irish Water had been installing were inferior to grade B boxes, bringing examples of both with him.
Grant told the committee that the lids of the boundary boxes could withstand more than two tonnes in weight from a vehicle driving over them.
He said that Irish Water uses automatic meter reading so that a passing company vehicle can read a meter automatically without the meter box needing to be accessed.
Irish Water previously said it intends to install more than one million water meters between 2013 and 2016.
This is despite water charges being capped at a maximum €160 until the beginning of 2019.
Environment Minister Alan Kelly has claimed that households could ‘beat the cap’ and pay less than the maximum charge by lowering their usage.
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I love Michael Healy Rae’s devastating revelation that the amount of broken boundary boxes was not actually 14…but 15!
The missing one was on his head.
Alan Kelly is a moron, he and everyone else in IW can go and f…ck themselves!! How can he compare his big fat salary that he gets for sitting on his arse to regular people’s salary?!
I got my first ever letter today saying they received info that I live here and asking me to register. I have no plans to register, but am curious where they got my info and how it was obtained.
They’re using Revenues database John.
They rang me regarding my bill. I asked where they got my name & phone no from. Said they had a number of sources i.e. vote reg, an post, revenue. etc. As to where got my phone no I was more interested in as my phone no is ex-directory. No one can give out an ex-directory no as it’s against the law to do that. They had no answer, I told the girl who rang me that when she told me where she got the number then I would think about contacting IW. She couldn’t tell me where she got the number I suggested that she read the info in front of her as it would say where the number came from. She then hung up.
I’d say he who cannot be mentioned is laughing his hole off right about now. At us.
He’ll be charging everyone for storing his meters on their property next year.
Plus, I’m sure anyone made homeless because their water (Anglo) charge was just one bill too much can be housed in a nice little hundred grand portashantyshack supplied by…..guess who.
Dennis O’Brian.. Up yours I’m not paying the water tax!!
Hugh.Any chance of opening the comments on the DUP involvement in that NAMA deal or are things so bad you have to bring up IW to deflect?
He could, but then if there are to be any court proceedings the case would be dismissed. Do you want guilty parties let off the hook simply so that you can write a comment?
They had absolutely no problem in opening comments for a bloody murder case when they thought they could score points against SF and any other case up until charges are filed.Do not give me shyte about Hugh protecting the sanctity of the justice system.
I never said anything about Hugh. But opening up the comments section for that story could prejudice any potential case. Just because something happened in the past, doesn’t mean it should in the future. I’m no fan of Hugh’s obvious political leanings, by the way, and especially how they seem to be pushed as an agenda.
Jamsey if you don’t like the articles or the authors opinions…please go elsewhere.
Guess the Jobstown protesters case can be thrown out so.
The Nama information has been in the public arena for weeks now. The UKs National Crime Agency is investigating and the UK press are reporting in it. It is in another jurisdiction. This picking and choosing of what can be reported with tenuous legal reasons cited is wearing thin. Everything heard today has already been printed.
Correct Jim. Reporting on what’s disclosed at hearings is commonplace round here.
As I am not a customer of Irish Water and never intend to be, how do I ensure that the box does’t give a meter reading for my home?
Its usually installed within the curtilage of your home. You can check with land reg. If so, you can legally remove it.
Just to clarify, the curtilage usually extends to the middle of the roadway outside your home. Basically 90% of meters installed have been done so unlawfully as the stopcock they removed without your permission is your property.
What’s the purpose of this question?
If you’re not paying them what does it matter?
Anti-water charges campaigner fined for causing criminal damage to water meters
Removing them…..is not breaking them Diarmuid….it’s just removing them. The guy you linked to actually broke pieces off them.
You think removing a telephone poll of electricity wires is legal Al?
If I “removed” your car, would that be legal?
You haven’t thought this through. Clearly have the same “lawyer” as James Connolly below.
Only one caught out of hundreds doing it Dermo – Bound to be a catch now and then
Have a look – the lads have made it nationally
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/water/irish-water-crisis/rogue-group-of-fairies-will-come-and-make-your-water-meter-disappear-31271846.html
Really easy to take one out too, If you need one removed ( With you, I certainly know where one is stuck )
Just eithr google Irish Water Fairies or look for them on Facebook – in the middle of the night, Presto! it`s gone, …..A bit like the elves and the shoemaker..
have a nice night now a Chara
You jokers use James Connolly as your lawyer too?
“to damage” includes to destroy, deface, dismantle or, whether temporarily or otherwise, render inoperable or unfit for use or prevent or impair the operation of… property
- Criminal Damage Act 1991.
Ciaran, typo: “or”
Dermo once again showing his ignorance of all things legal. You cannot be charged with criminal damage for removing a meter installed within the boundary of your property without your permission any more than you can be charged with carrying a deadly weapon for crawling into the a&e with a knife stuck in your back.
In Irish Waters case they cannot hide behind the law while themselves carrying out an unlawful act I.e. contracting you without your consent and sending demands for money
Wow. You’re doubling down I see James, with scattered BS.
You may indeed succeed in manipulating vulnerable people into breaking the law, which is a pretty degenerate thing to do. I’m sure you will drop your anonymity and help those who follow your “legal advice” who end up charged with criminal offences.
Ignoring the fact that most of these water meters, which are legally the property of a State owned utility, are installed outside of private property….
The fact that a State owned utility installs equipment such a water meter or a telephone poll or electricity wires on private property, does not give the owner the legal right to “remove” or destroy said property.
“This is how many meters Irish Water has now installed ”
Question is, how many have been un-installed thanks to the water fairies and homeowners who have removed them themselves?
That is honestly pathetic. If you have an estate of 200 houses with all meters electronically reporting then you can average usage and identify the leak quicker. Meters absolutely make sense. Used all over Europe.
Been used un rural group water schemes for decades.
Water meters are not the property of the homeowner.
Destroying them is criminal damage.
” If you have an estate of 200 houses with all meters electronically reporting then you can average usage and identify the leak quicker. ”
the most efficient way of detecting leaks is to use them at major junctions in the water network rather than individual houses, as the vast majority of the losses occur before the water reaches the domestic meters.
“Destroying them is criminal damage.”
Removing them is not.
Well that has zero logic.
Narrow down the leak from entire estates to individual homes. Common sense. Nothing stopping other meters along the network too.
It’s criminal behaviour, you spoofer.
3 redthumed in quick succession BOOOOOOOOOM
“It’s criminal behaviour, you spoofer.”
Says the guy who was caught spoofing 3 times in the same day.
Its not criminal behaviour to remove something installed without your consent within the curtilage of your home. I took legal advice before I removed my own. Even checked with land reg that the curtilage extended over the stopcock on the folio.
It is criminal behaviour to damage or remove the property of a semi-state company.
Just like it is criminal behaviour to chop down a telephone poll, or “remove” it.
You are an abject Spoooofer.
Hey James Connolly
Have a read…
Anti-water charges campaigner fined for causing criminal damage to water meters
Lol! Dermo obviously knows more then the solicitors I talked to.
But let’s believe him, after all he’s such an honest Bro…..
Sorry, there’s laughing in my head…
Annonymous shinnerbot quotes unverifiable “legal advice”, ignores reported criminal convictions.
Will you be paying everyone’s criminal fines James Connolly?
The article you posted refers to a conviction for breaking the AMRs off the meters, NOT for removing them.
Another spoof for the pile dermo, tut tut
So you’re happy to pay everyone’s fines if you’re wrong James?
It’s grand to remove the ESB poll in the back garden? The telephone wires overhanging the property?
When did you pick up your criminal law degree?
Joker!!!!!!
Diarmuid…again…that guy broke off the AMR’s attached to the meters(the bit that sends the signal). No one has been brought to court for removing the whole meter.
It ain’t a semi state company!! its a private company, check out the bottom of their web page, thought someone so in love with IW would know ever curve of his one true love……
You use James Connolly as your lawyer too Al?
“to damage” includes to destroy, deface, dismantle or, whether temporarily or otherwise, render inoperable or unfit for use or prevent or impair the operation of… property
- Criminal Damage Act 1991.
Dear oh dear. A person is not committing an unlawful act if they carry out a reasonable and measured act to prevent an unlawful act being carried out on them.
For example, if I steal a van full of furniture that has just been burgled from my home and drive it to the Garda station, no judge is going to convict me. Likewise if I remove a meter installed without my consent whose purpose is for a private company to demand money from me who has signed me up unlawfully…. Well, see you in court.
Nice wandering scattered BS….
The installation of water meters is a lawful act under Irish statute, either on public or private property.
Just like the installation of telephone polls or electricity wires.
Publish your name anonymous Shinnerbot and we can report your actions to the Gardaí.
Sure you have nothing to worry about…
@Diarmuid
Telephone/ESB POLE
not poll
please.
Absolute waste of money
755,000 meters across the country …. ah hold on a minute i have to pick myself of the floor i have just split my sides laughing ……. what planet does does those morons think we came from ????
more like 20-30 thousand of those toxic 2nd hand meters fitted ….
desperation is shining like a beacon …. bye bye iw and FG/Lab …. start packing all the P45′s are ready
Where did you get the 20K figure from?
She did a David Drumm and plucked from her……!! All IW figures are a conspiricy don’t you know.
IW figures on spending are okay. Its income that is a little suspicious. Anyway good to see ex team RPS player in the news.
They’re not a conspiracy, just well massaged, most houses built since 2005 have meters installed by the builders, it wouldn’t surprise me if 500,000 of their 755,000 figure were already there before they started
Just getting my popcorn.
That must be some board that Michael Heal Rae plays draughts on
left my car on the stopcock for a week when the installers were around, I’ve no meter, no bill and no contact whatsoever.
While we are on the subject of IW, i registered thinking it was for the good of the people and that it would stay with the government.
Since i found out i have refused to oay and marched in Dundrum and three times in the City, i have received my two bills which I did not pay, and today i received one from social welfare telling me if i want my 100€ i should send them my details.
I have no intention of paying until there is a referendum in the Country to vote.
Now anyone out there with any advice for me, i would appreciate it.
This is probably long and boring but i really would appreciate peoples opinions or legal help for when they come knocking on my door.
von. I was in Dundrum as well. how can they possibly force you to pay for it. let them try to bring you to court along with thousands of others. anyway I reckon the whole thing will be dropped soon enough, there’s simply to meny people against the privatisation and cronyism that is the hallmark of Irish water. I view it as a scam.
Cupid stunt. Thank you for answering, i maybe the only that registered, i agree there are many more who didn’t pay and I’m willing to go to Court if i have to in fact i ready willing and able, it is the registering bit that bothers me and I’m mad with myself for not waiting to hear
great idea of privatising it.
Thanks for answering. By the way love the name Cupit Stunt
Some of my friends are in the same boat Von, but i don`t think you have to worry, not only will it be defeated, but also the fact that the original contract that you signed up for is, is in my view, not worth the paper it is written on, as surely it has changed drastically since you signed the forms, forgive me if i am wrong here, but if any contract is to be changed so drastically it should require new acceptance of changes in writing?
That fact could well be challenged in a court of law, not to mention all the old people who basically signed the contract under duress ( fear of being cut off ) that in itself makes a contract null and void.
If they eventually get them all fitted, it will be nearly time to start replacing them. Bad shelf life apparently
can they tell us how many of them are still there, that’s the question. well done water fairies.
unwanted gift.. return to sender. no contract no concent.
Correct, unsolicited goods. I gave them 30 days to remove.
As an undeserved courtesy.
Explain to us James how a person can be criminally convicted of damaging an unsolicited good/gift….
Water Meters are the legal property of a state owned utility.
Your lies are designed to manipulate people into breaking the law. You should be ashamed of yourself.
I wonder who’ll get the contract for removing them?
754,999
Irish who?
Ah just f*ck off will ya
I think they are great. I got 2 bills, paid total if 50 euros this year for metered water. I honestly don’t get what all the fuss is about. It forces people to think about the water we use.
No it doesn’t, charges are capped.Mrs Smith living on her own will pay the same as the single millionaire filling his Olympic size swimming pool. Plus if you don’t know what the fuss is about, you must have just awoken from a coma.
yea and before this people who were on a well or paying for group schemes paid motor tax and VAT for everyone elses water.
The flat charge was a mistake and a progressive system of charging should have been stuck to.
The issue is that all the meters need to be installed before this can happen
etc etc. ad infinitum
Stopit my taxes pay towards SNA’s yet I or my family doesn’t avail of that service.
Because Tierney is spending money like no tomorrow. Your bill will rise significantly when caps are removed. They couldn’t even put employment contracts in place that the lrc could stand over. And all done with union backing. Pensions and bonus schemes alll off the public purse. Only uhi will out do from a scamming perspective
I also don’t know what the fuss is about, I got two bills (worth an unmetered €65 each) and paid nothing but for registering I get €100 worth of a water conservation grant
I will probably spend the money on beer to conserve water :)
how many have been uninstalled??
A blatant waste of taxpayers’ money. The money used to install these low grade meters would have been better spent on directly upgrading the infrastructure as well as going towards or health service, homeless and education.
You’re more likely to see a guard at the installation of one of these things than on the beat in our cities. Rural crime, up, hospital waiting lists, up, homelessness, up. The numbers angry with this disgrace of a company and the government, up.
Down with Irish feckin Water
Diarmuid & co – here’s how useless your quango & their water meters are. Only a monkey would be happy with this bullsh*t:
@stiofain. why would you not want to know how much water you are using? how are people supposed to fix leaks without knowing exactly where the leak is?
@the west guy
Do you seriously think IW is about water conservation ? It’s nothing more than a money making exercise, we already pay for water. If a leak is detected, IW will inform you but you have to pay to fix it ! Imagine the ESB telling you the cables over your house are your responsibility!! It’s bonkers.
The infrastructure should have already been fixed before now with the money we already pay?
IW is lining the pockets of the elite.
Of course its about money.. Water has not been treated free of charge for years. It makes sense to charge people for what they use.. We can bury our heads in the sand all we like, but nothing is free, nothing. So we either pay for water or we increase taxes on someone… Just get over it. We have been paying for water for years. Water wasn’t free for all the population. Atlas now we have a even playing field.
Sorry, already pay – not paying twice, especially when the second time is to line the pockets of others.
West guy that’s the worst case for paying yet, shur let’s all pay for the craic make sure IW have the best Christmas party they can have.
Apparently, according to the accounts committee we’re ‘contributing’ three times 1.) Government subventions in excess of €400m pa 2.) 2/3s of which comes from motor taxes 3.) household water charge …
Terrible waste of taxpayers money installing water meters ,That people dont want ,wont pay the bills ,In time water charges will be scraped ,as having so called “customers ” that wont pay ,The real payment figure is around 27% not 50% when those with wells and in private water schemes are taken out of the figures ,With 11% of ” customers ” canceling direct debit ,Its only a matter of time when the next government abolishes water charges and Irish Water become another bad nightmare like the e-voting machines ,Keep on boycotting the bills and no company private or semi-private can keep going ,Power to the people
And they want people to sign up to this scam. No doubt you’ll be charged when they need replacing. http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/irish-water-containers-dont-meet-technical-standards-697385.html
But they only last 10 years and they burst in hard frost?
http://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-star/20150914/281603829250268/TextView
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