Water Meters

Joe Public

MYOB wrote: »

Leaflet came through the door today, most notable thing is a warning that if you use the mains as earth for power, it won't be earth anymore when the meter is in.

It is possible if the house was built before the 80's and a metal mains water pipe was used for an earth source. The earth is normally done via an earth rod even before the 80s and earth via metal water pipe only should be uncommon. Since the early 80s plastic mains water pipes are used to feed houses but you can always have exceptions.

L1011

Joe Public wrote: »

It is possible if the house was built before the 80's and a metal mains water pipe was used for an earth source. The earth is normally done via an earth rod even before the 80s and earth via metal water pipe only should be uncommon. Since the early 80s plastic mains water pipes are used to feed houses but you can always have exceptions.

That was my point - I should have said water mains rather than just mains which could imply electrical

Pretty sure my parents house (likely 1970s build but mid 80s purchase 'new' - thats how long houses took to sell them) uses the watermains as earth, at least there's earth wiring bonded to it in places and we've never found a cap for an earth rod.

Just assuming this house has an earth rod, as despite being older it actually has plastic pipes in the few places they haven't been completely replaced due to the kitchen being moved etc.

endacl

Am I the only one who thinks a metered water supply is quite a good idea....?

Services don't arrive at your house for free.

Am Chile

endacl wrote: »

Am I the only one who thinks a metered water supply is quite a good idea....?

Services don't arrive at your house for free.

]Am I the only one who thinks a metered water supply is quite a good idea....?

Probaly one of the few-with gas prices/electricity prices and bin charges all set to increase next year and the kite flying in the yesterdays papers about the budget-I bet there is a awful lot of people are dreading thought of the water charges and wondering how they will manage to pay them.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=85929388&postcount=3051

Services don't arrive at your house for free.

The idea that water is somehow free is quite false and misleading-water is a public service paid for by peoples taxes- il be very surprised if water charges dont meet the same level of opposition as they did last time around.

L1011

Am Chile wrote: »

Probabaly one of the few

I think you're the only one on this thread who seems to be expressing obvious opposition so I have no idea where you get that from.

Am Chile wrote: »

The idea that water is somehow free is quite false and misleading-water is a public service paid for by peoples taxes

Currently, the state isn't paying for everything by peoples taxes. Hence the defecit...

Am Chile wrote: »

il be very surprised if water charges dont meet the same level of opposition as they did last time around.

Which was minimal, if you can actually remember them rather than believing CAHWT guff about 'the good old days'.

There was an angry article a month in the Maynooth Newsletter and occasionally three or four people waving placards in Naas. In general there was actually more anger that Dublin Corporation didn't charge.

Am Chile

MYOB wrote: »

I think you're the only one on this thread who seems to be expressing obvious opposition so I have no idea where you get that from.



Currently, the state isn't paying for everything by peoples taxes. Hence the defecit...



Which was minimal, if you can actually remember them rather than believing CAHWT guff about 'the good old days'.

There was an angry article a month in the Maynooth Newsletter and occasionally three or four people waving placards in Naas. In general there was actually more anger that Dublin Corporation didn't charge.

I think you're the only one on this thread who seems to be expressing obvious opposition so I have no idea where you get that from.

From various polls in the media radio and news paper polls over the last few years- and opposition in the real world outside boards.ie-IM sure all those people on less then 20 euros a week ( league of credit union surveys ) will welcome a water charge with open arms.

Currently, the state isn't paying for everything by peoples taxes. Hence the defecit...

It is paying for water as a public service- Im sure the men who work in the water service department arent working and helping provide a service without being paid.

Which was minimal, if you can actually remember them rather than believing CAHWT guff about 'the good old days'

In some areas there was stronger opposition then others- in the 1996 bye election water charges was a issue- joe higgins only narrowly missed a seat which saw labours vote go way down-obvious strong enough shown by that bye election.

L1011

Am Chile wrote: »

From various polls in the media radio and news paper polls over the last few years- and opposition in the real world outside boards.ie-IM sure all those people on less then 20 euros a week ( league of credit union surveys ) will welcome a water charge with open arms.

The ILCU survey is hilariously discredited. You appear to see and read solely what you agree with - right down to ignoring the rest of this thread!

Am Chile wrote: »

It is paying for water as a public service- Im sure the men who work in the water service department arent working and helping provide a service without being paid.

Without massive borrowing, or the introduction of charging, they aren't going to be paid.

Am Chile wrote: »

In some areas there was stronger opposition then others- in the 1996 bye election water charges was a issue- joe higgins only narrowly missed a seat which saw labours vote go way down-obvious strong enough shown by that bye election.

That wasn't water charges, that was Dublin voters trying to avoid paying any charges - as they had no residential tax, bin charges or water charges at the time. And guess what? They couldn't even win a protest vote at a by-election. In Kildare they could barely muster a councillor.

You're in a tiny minority here, and as has been explained already, none of this is even close to on-topic.

2011abc

Lets get real now ,anybody who thinks people are looking forward to paying for their water (who didnt previously) is mad !And many people I know ARE barely scraping by month to month .I know MY family are !Simply impossible to save a cent , even before the latest round of austerity .

Joe Public

MYOB wrote: »

That was my point - I should have said water mains rather than just mains which could imply electrical

Pretty sure my parents house (likely 1970s build but mid 80s purchase 'new' - thats how long houses took to sell them) uses the watermains as earth, at least there's earth wiring bonded to it in places and we've never found a cap for an earth rod.

Just assuming this house has an earth rod, as despite being older it actually has plastic pipes in the few places they haven't been completely replaced due to the kitchen being moved etc.

The earth wiring is bonded to the water pipes more for safety than using them as an earth source. Suppose someone had one hand on a tap and the other touching a metal part of the cooker it wouldn't do to have them at different voltages for whatever reason.

brian_t

Am Chile wrote: »

I see from facebook the CAHWT group in kildare are planning to hold a public meeting this wednesday night on the water charge/water privatisation issue

According to the Leinster Leader 30 people attended this meeting.

Twice as many as attended the People Before Profits meeting on Aug 7 in the Glenroyal on "An Alternative Health Care System" (14 not incl. Press and Speakers).

They had a meeting in Aug last year in Kilcock about "Cuts in the Ambulance Service" where only 5 people turned up.

At the water charges meeting one of the speakers in explaining apathy said "Most People in Kildare are Sheep".

L1011

Sierra managed to trap a lot of cars in driveways today it seems. Caught them in time to get the one I needed (which was at the front so required some shuffling in a width-restricted road) out but it seems others didn't.

Redsoxfan

Is the metre under the access chamber that they have installed?

Or is there further work to come?

L1011

Meter is in there.

If you're in a newer estate, those boundary boxes are already present and the installation should take a fraction of the time (allegedly!)

whowantstwoknow

I thought your driveway isnt allowed to be blocked in etc...

I can understand the need, but were residents given ample warnings??

W.

ozmo

What are the paths like after the installation? Much damage?

Orion

It's a bit dumb if there's a car in the driveway to dig a hole right behind it. They arrive at 7:30 to set up and start digging at 8am. If a car is there and they need to start they should use the doorbell.

My partners leaves at 8:30 to bring the kids to school and go to work herself. They're due at my place tomorrow - I'll leave the car across the path tonight so and not drive completely into the driveway - they can wait until she leaves before digging the place up.

L1011

Started in my parents estate without giving in the second dated leaflet.

Path surface is fairly well done, road was left in a hideously filthy state but I've just seen someone walk up with a pressure washer lance in his hand so they may be fixing that too.

emo72

what if a car was parked/broken down where they needed to dig?

L1011

emo72 wrote: »

what if a car was parked/broken down where they needed to dig?

They'll come back. In most cases it'd be illegal parking so the council could move it. Anyway, they've the ability to charge people without meters anyway.

BuffyBot

I've just had to do a massive pruning job on this thread. I'd refer everyone to my earlier warnings in this thread. I'll be less lenient if there is more off-topic/sniping/trollery.

Moonbeam

They did our estate on Tuesday,they were nice and pleasant my car was parked on the road and it was fine. It is only the paths that they block and they put up blue and yellow plastic barriers around it.They do about 60 houses a day.
I did get to see just how close our pipes are to the path (2-3 inchs )though and it is not good and the council will not be doing anything to rectify the issue.
Only downside is the paths are filthy,Normally they would be lovely and clean here but they are now filthy.


They said if people say they do not want them installed then that is fine they will not install them and they will be charged based on other houses of the same size and amount of peoples cost.

Orion

It's only dust though isn't it - the rain this weekend will sort that out.

I've heard about the pipes around your area before - burst pipes galore in the freeze because they're so close to the surface. Saw my pipes yesterday - about 18-24 inches below the surface.

Anyone know when the finish Maynooth? I do have to say that, like it or not, they are going at some fair pace. My whole estate done in 2 days is pretty impressive.

wirelessdude01

Orion wrote: »

It's only dust though isn't it - the rain this weekend will sort that out.

I've heard about the pipes around your area before - burst pipes galore in the freeze because they're so close to the surface. Saw my pipes yesterday - about 18-24 inches below the surface.

Anyone know when the finish Maynooth? I do have to say that, like it or not, they are going at some fair pace. My whole estate done in 2 days is pretty impressive.

Think you must be in the same estate as me. Finishing touches going on at the moment. Looked like some official from water.ie was around looking at them this afternoon.

Lisa2011

Anyone have an idea when they will be finished Kildare?

L1011

It's actual muck rather than dust left in some areas. Forgot to call and moan again today!

Moonbeam

Lisa2011 wrote: »

Anyone have an idea when they will be finished Kildare?

no,I think he said Celbridge and Leixlip next but after that no idea.

Moonbeam

MYOB wrote: »

It's actual muck rather than dust left in some areas. Forgot to call and moan again today!

you sound like some of my neighbours:)
In fact you should join our residents association.

It is muck and dust it is really filthy.

L1011

Moonbeam wrote: »

you sound like some of my neighbours:)
In fact you should join our residents association.

It is muck and dust it is really filthy.

Pretty sure we're in the same development ("Greenfields" - Greenfield Drive, Lawrence Avenue, Maynooth Park and Straffan Wood are all the same developer as far as I know) but possibly not the same road.

I emailed them there and had a good moan. I've paid my 50 quid to the RA, not sure I'm that interested in the hassle of trying to collect it and organise the grass contract!

Moonbeam

s/Straffan Wood/Straffan Way

We are.

L1011

Foreman called me there. Road (well, my one anyway) will be cleaned Monday or possibly tomorrow.

darkhorse

brian_t wrote: »

https://twitter.com/MarieMulcahyTV3/status/365444821877420032/photo/1[/QUOTE]

Is that the guy that played Crocodile Dundee?

darkhorse

MYOB wrote: »

The ILCU survey is hilariously discredited.

By who?

darkhorse

MYOB wrote: »

You're in a tiny minority here.

Not anymore. I just found the door to this room.

Staplor

I just went out to the installrers, after 9.30pm they were compacting the ground around the meter next door.

In fairness to them they packed it in when I complained, but half nine is a bit much.

greenpilot

zenno wrote: »

There's only one way of getting rid of this crud... stand up and out in enormous numbers like the old days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYmz7oXPbWU

Get over it. Most of us in the rest of the country have been paying for our water for years through group water schemes. It's not a new phenomenon you know....

Moonbeam

That is a bit much.
They blocked peoples drive ways over the meadowbrook side of Maynooth for days .
MYOB - did they clean your road? i forgot to look earlier.

L1011

Nope. I'll give them a day or two before moaning again, they're still faffing around with a few houses here.

L1011

I did contact them directly originally.

Rosahane

They shouldn't be washing the muck down the drains, it will clog them up and come the winter storms they will overflow.

KCC were around here a couple of weeks ago cleaning them out.

If the Irish Water contractors are washing muck down the drains get on to KCC sharpish, I doubt that they are allowed to do this!

L1011

IW phoned me last night (missed the call) and again this morning wanting to check it had been resolved. Which it hasn't, but it saves me the hassle of calling *them* anyway.

ledgebag1

Apologies if this has addressed earlier, but why are the meters not installed in our houses Apartments. All over Europe the houses/ Apartments have the meter inside the dwelling. This is due to the fact that most houses lose a lot of water through the underground pipes. The meter within the house gives a true reading of the water used

wirelessdude01

ledgebag1 wrote: »

Apologies if this has addressed earlier, but why are the meters not installed in our houses Apartments. All over Europe the houses/ Apartments have the meter inside the dwelling. This is due to the fact that most houses lose a lot of water through the underground pipes. The meter within the house gives a true reading of the water used

Would that cause disruption/damage inside the house?

brian_t

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Would that cause disruption/damage inside the house?

It would significantly add to the expense of the installation too.

Could those meters be read without accessing the appartments.

Ken.

Private company would have no right to enter your house either to install or read it. That's why the electric meter is a box on your outside wall.
Also imagine the uproar(rightly so) if they did put it inside and it leaked wrecking someone's house.

brian_t

Apartments will not be metered during phase 1 of the meter installation programme, therefore apartments will be issued with an unmetered bill.

Irish Water is currently looking at options for further phases of the metering programme. Apartments will be a part of this analysis.

Meters can be read by a 'drive by' method rather than by an individual visit by a meter reader. This means we won't need to enter your property to take a reading and we can read them more efficiently

http://www.water.ie/billing-and-metering/metering-explained/

ledgebag1

ken wrote: »

Private company would have no right to enter your house either to install or read it. That's why the electric meter is a box on your outside wall.
Also imagine the uproar(rightly so) if they did put it inside and it leaked wrecking someone's house.

Hi, most electric meters, in fact all are inside the houses in my area and require you to be there so the meter can be read. This is why ESB are rolling out digital meters in our area these will be read through broadband or remotely.

The meter is only measuring the volume of water used and does not dictate the flow so I dont think a leak would be an issue etc.

In relation to cost, it would probably cost less than public liability insuring, digging up all the footpaths in the area than installing a meter closer to the house.

The meter could be installed just inside your door or on the front of the house much like my electricity.

In countries like Spain for instance all the Gas, Electricity and Water Meters are inside the house and apartments.

The reason I would prefer this? My house is 40 Years old and the pipe between the Meter and house, my be cracked or leaking? The county council have no intention of checking this, so the reading of water I use may not be the same that I receive.

I know it sounds maybe pedantic, and I actually have no problem paying for my water as long as I get what I am paying for

L1011

ESB no longer allow new internal meters - them being installed indoors on old installs doesn't count for much. Spanish utility firms are not the most competent either to be comparing to.

brian_t

ledgebag1 wrote: »

The reason I would prefer this? My house is 40 Years old and the pipe between the Meter and house, my be cracked or leaking? The county council have no intention of checking this, so the reading of water I use may not be the same that I receive.

I know it sounds maybe pedantic, and I actually have no problem paying for my water as long as I get what I am paying for

The County Council would say - Why should they be responsible for leaks that occur on your property, it's not their problem it's yours.

ledgebag1

brian_t wrote: »

The County Council would say - Why should they be responsible for leaks that occur on your property, it's not their problem it's yours.

Right so you can see the reason I would prefer the meter within the house?

Spanish firms not being competent? Right throughout Europe meters are within the dwelling.


Anyway, as much as I would prefer that its not going to happen, so lets move on

ledgebag1

MYOB wrote: »

ESB no longer allow new internal meters - them being installed indoors on old installs doesn't count for much. Spanish utility firms are not the most competent either to be comparing to.

Mine was installed not so long ago? Is there any literature on that or a link I would like to look into it thanks