Check your water meters or get the chequebook

Ogham · 24-09-2014 04:00PM

The "first fix " is still due to happen - but the details won't be released until charges are announced - and Irish Water can't say leaks will be fixed until the regulator agrees everything. It should all be announced before Oct 1st (maybe even 1 day before!)
I have seen mention of large leaks only qaulifying (over 800l a day) .

keno-daytrader · 24-09-2014 07:28PM

I have received a totally different reply from the one I had yesterday saying that owner/occupiers are 100% responsible for leaks.

Another IW rep emailed me the following, in response to my followup email regarding the info on Prime Time last night from IW

"Thank you for your email regarding a first fix policy.

The Government recently announced plans to introduce a scheme whereby the first fix on a customer supply pipe would be provided free of charge to Irish Water customers. The policies, processes and systems to support implementation of this scheme are currently being developed and it is expected that this scheme will be available to Irish Water customers from early 2015.

We apologise that we cannot be more specific at this time."

It would seem the policy of the day depends on the rep that deals with you.

Ogham · 24-09-2014 07:32PM

I saw a bit in the proposals that mentioned capping bills where leaks are suspected until leak fixed or ruled out. The cap would be at the approriate "assessed charge" .
The meters have "constant flow" alarms - so IW will be aware of it as soon as they do their drive by readings.

Sun in Capri · 24-09-2014 08:45PM

Just a thought - as the meters are on public property namely foothpaths, I wonder if they will be a novelty for vandals!

Supercell · 24-09-2014 08:46PM

How do you know if you are being billed from the right meter?
On our road the stop cocks are all outside the house one door up in a staggered fashion. So my meter is outside my neighbors house while his is outside the house beside him and so on.
Is there a visible unique meter number we can check on the bills to make sure we are not being billed for our neighbors usage or vice versa?

copey · 24-09-2014 08:57PM

Tip of the iceberg

delahuntv · 25-09-2014 06:40PM

keno-daytrader wrote: »

I have received a totally different reply from the one I had yesterday saying that owner/occupiers are 100% responsible for leaks.

Absolutely correct the exact same as a short circuit on your electricty board is for eyou to fix. HOWEVER, Irish Water will do a first fix free of charge. Any leaks after that on your property and you are either charged if Irish Water come out or you get your own plumber to fix it.

Also, the first 2 bills will be CAPPED at the average cost for the number of occupant in the household. So if you use a crazy 500,000 litres in the first quarter and the same in the second billing cycle and there are just 2 adults in the house, the maximum you will pay is €69.75 per bill.

If you are metered and you use under the €69.75 worth, you will pay the lower amount.

So you will have ample time to organise a fix and or find out the reason of excessive water meter reading before you pay for excessive use.

ted1 · 25-09-2014 07:03PM

i got a pack addressed to me asking me to provide my details. Other than pikeys laying Tarmac who else expects you to sign up without providing the tariffs.

dubrov · 25-09-2014 07:19PM

This is either a meter problem or a plumbing problem.

If it is a plumbing problem, it highlights a reason why water charges are being brought in.
Loads of water being wasted with no incentive to fix the problem.

Sounds like the meter is the problem here given the volume.

Zzippy · 25-09-2014 07:22PM

Saw a post from a friend on fb - she's had no water since Friday. IW wouldn't come out, but Dublin City Council did. Apparently after digging up 35m of pavement, they found 4 meters connected to 3 houses (2 to one house), and no water flowing through 2 of the meters, apparently caused by bad installation. Would say there are plenty more cases like this...

Ogham · 25-09-2014 07:35PM

Zzippy wrote: »

Saw a post from a friend on fb - she's had no water since Friday. IW wouldn't come out, but Dublin City Council did. Apparently after digging up 35m of pavement, they found 4 meters connected to 3 houses (2 to one house), and no water flowing through 2 of the meters, apparently caused by bad installation. Would say there are plenty more cases like this...

All the local councils still do the water repairs for Irish Water - so when someone calls Irish Water they will nearly always get council workers.
They are all part of the same thing now.

Kelly06 · 25-09-2014 08:20PM

delahuntv wrote: »

Absolutely correct the exact same as a short circuit on your electricty board is for eyou to fix. HOWEVER, Irish Water will do a first fix free of charge. Any leaks after that on your property and you are either charged if Irish Water come out or you get your own plumber to fix it.

Also, the first 2 bills will be CAPPED at the average cost for the number of occupant in the household. So if you use a crazy 500,000 litres in the first quarter and the same in the second billing cycle and there are just 2 adults in the house, the maximum you will pay is €69.75 per bill.

If you are metered and you use under the €69.75 worth, you will pay the lower amount.

So you will have ample time to organise a fix and or find out the reason of excessive water meter reading before you pay for excessive use.

Hey just wondering are they planning on every one having their water meter installed by the time the first two bills have issued?

Strikes me that people who don't have their water meter installed by the time the first six months are over are at a bit of a disadvantage because their water meter will go in at a time when they are being billed for the amount used. If there is a leak it will be fixed but will the astronomical bill be disregarded? I hope so!

Ogham · 25-09-2014 08:21PM

Kelly06 wrote: »

Hey just wondering are they planning on every one having their water meter installed by the time the first two bills have issued?

Strikes me that people who don't have their water meter installed by the time the first six months are over are at a bit of a disadvantage because their water meter will go in at a time when they are being billed for the amount used. If there is a leak it will be fixed but will the astronomical bill be disregarded? I hope so!

The 6 mmonths of capped bills starts once a meter is installed.

Kelly06 · 25-09-2014 08:25PM

Ogham wrote: »

The 6 mmonths of capped bills starts once a meter is installed.

So it's pay per adult occupancy until the meter is put in and then for another six months after ? Thanks I didn't know that !

delahuntv · 26-09-2014 08:58AM

Zzippy wrote: »

Saw a post from a friend on fb - she's had no water since Friday. IW wouldn't come out, but Dublin City Council did. Apparently after digging up 35m of pavement, they found 4 meters connected to 3 houses (2 to one house), and no water flowing through 2 of the meters, apparently caused by bad installation. Would say there are plenty more cases like this...

I love the "I saw a post from a friend who said"

Usually a lot of it is made up.

To check flow through meters you wouldn't have to dig even 1 cm let alone 35m (did the friend measure it?)

Did the "friend" not notice no water before last Friday?

Somehow I think there a little poetic licence in the story.

Zzippy · 26-09-2014 04:10PM

delahuntv wrote: »

I love the "I saw a post from a friend who said"

Usually a lot of it is made up.

To check flow through meters you wouldn't have to dig even 1 cm let alone 35m (did the friend measure it?)

Did the "friend" not notice no water before last Friday?

Somehow I think there a little poetic licence in the story.

Perhaps there is, but it is a true reflection of what was posted on FB by a friend of mine, with photos. I'm not going to link to a private FB page. I'm sure she is not an expert on water meters, but went on what she was told by the DCC workers who did the repair work. But thanks for doubting my bona fides in posting. :rolleyes:

L1011 · 26-09-2014 09:13PM

Zzippy wrote: »

Perhaps there is, but it is a true reflection of what was posted on FB by a friend of mine, with photos. I'm not going to link to a private FB page. I'm sure she is not an expert on water meters, but went on what she was told by the DCC workers who did the repair work. But thanks for doubting my bona fides in posting. :rolleyes:

DCC workers wouldn't be touching meters, or anything to do with water at all so I also doubt the accuracy of this.

Ogham · 26-09-2014 09:19PM

MYOB wrote: »

DCC workers wouldn't be touching meters, or anything to do with water at all so I also doubt the accuracy of this.

Irish Water haven't suddenly employed thousands of workers. The local council's existing water staff do the same work tahy always did - but coordinated by Irish Water.

The teams installing meters are just doing meters. Leaks etc will be covered by council staff all over the country working on behalf of Irish Water.

iguana · 28-09-2014 01:15PM

MYOB wrote: »

DCC workers wouldn't be touching meters, or anything to do with water at all so I also doubt the accuracy of this.

That's true. If the meters are in Leitrim. :rolleyes:

All the work is overseen and ordered by IW but it is the staff from the water departments in the relevant local authority who will be doing the work.

boardz · 28-09-2014 06:21PM

Can I ask how are the figures read on the meter. ..not physically but what numbers are the thousands hundreds etc....read my meter on 20/09 and it read 9514 and now today its 10471?

Thanks

hadepsx · 28-09-2014 07:25PM

ive used 2750 litres in one week 2 adults 4 kids a dog and cat in my house. is this good or bad or average

Ogham · 28-09-2014 07:51PM

boardz wrote: »

Can I ask how are the figures read on the meter. ..not physically but what numbers are the thousands hundreds etc....read my meter on 20/09 and it read 9514 and now today its 10471?

Thanks

If you are showing both the red and black numbers - then that last reading is 10,471 litres . Usage of just under 1000l since 20th sept is about 140 l a day (7 days)
Carry on at that rate and (assuming no children) your usage would be about 52000l a year with a bill of about €107 a year.
Using figures from here http://www.moneyguideireland.com/figures-for-water-charges-released.html

Ogham · 28-09-2014 07:56PM

hadepsx wrote: »

ive used 2750 litres in one week 2 adults 4 kids a dog and cat in my house. is this good or bad or average

That would be 143,000 over a year. For 6 people - not high usage.
Assuming all kids under 18 and you give all PPSns - your bill would be around €140 a year.
More examples here - http://www.moneyguideireland.com/details-of-water-charges-for-families-with-children.html

Victor · 28-09-2014 08:16PM

hadepsx wrote: »

ive used 2750 litres in one week 2 adults 4 kids a dog and cat in my house. is this good or bad or average

It sounds reasonable.

boardz wrote: »

Can I ask how are the figures read on the meter. ..not physically but what numbers are the thousands hundreds etc....read my meter on 20/09 and it read 9514 and now today its 10471?

In the image (may not be the exact meter that you have), the red number are litres and the blue numbers are metres cubed

allthedoyles · 28-09-2014 08:18PM

The first 6 months are not based on meter readings , - but estimates I heard

Ogham · 28-09-2014 08:22PM

allthedoyles wrote: »

The first 6 months are not based on meter readings , - but estimates I heard

Not quite right - they will be capped at the assessed charge level for 6 months to give people time to adjust usage or sort out leaks.

boardz · 29-09-2014 01:49PM

My meter is a little different Victor. The numbers are black and red...I just went out to check and realised that there is a third red figure giving 105.172 just now...not allowed to put up pics yet

I think that Ogham and yourself have two different answers ie litres vs cubic metres (probably caused by me omitting the third red digit) could you clarify please.

Ogham · 29-09-2014 02:42PM

boardz wrote: »

My meter is a little different Victor. The numbers are black and red...I just went out to check and realised that there is a third red figure giving 105.172 just now...not allowed to put up pics yet I think that Ogham and yourself have two different answers ie litres vs cubic metres (probably caused by me omitting the third red digit) could you clarify please.

So it was 951 thousand on 20th sept and its 105 thousand litres today.
That's a good bit higher usage - 54 thousand litres in 8 days ! Over 6000l aday.
That's the equivalent of having a 10 minute powere shower every day for a year.
Unless you have a constant running hosepipe - I would say you have a leak.

Check the meter when you know there is no water being used and see how much it goes up in 1 minute.
Irishwater / CER will soon be announcing news about fixing the first leak for free. )Tomorrow hopefully. You should qualify.

jay0109 · 29-09-2014 02:53PM

My meter has casing over the numbers in red, that can't be moved. So I can just see the numbers in black which are m3.
Really annoying me as wanted to see how much we were using.

Anyone else having this issue- any way around it?

Victor · 29-09-2014 03:15PM

Take a reading, leave it a week or two and take another reading. Divide by the number of days. Not as precise, but should give you a reasonably accurate number.

Taking a reading over a few days might not be as useful, depending on how exactly the household uses water, e.g. extra washing / cleaning and higher occupancy at the weekend.

Check your water meters or get the chequebook

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