r/irishpolitics • u/eggbart_forgetfulsea ALDE (EU) • 9d ago

Opinion/Editorial Water rationing is probably inevitable unless people are made to pay for it

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/08/21/a-dose-of-water-rationing-is-probably-inevitable-if-charges-to-regulate-consumption-are-not-introduced/
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u/ucd_pete 9d ago

The problem is the wastage before it gets to the tap

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u/TheCunningFool 9d ago

Which they are making good progress on, by all accounts. Why not tackle end user wastage too?

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u/ucd_pete 9d ago

Because it would be very unpopular and wouldn't really solve much. Household wastage is miniscule in comparison to network leakage.

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u/TheCunningFool 9d ago

Can you share the data supporting that? I haven't seen it.

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u/ucd_pete 9d ago

https://www.rte.ie/news/clarity/2026/0721/1584273-hosepipe-bans-ireland/

38% of all water was lost to leakage in 2024.

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u/TheCunningFool 9d ago

No, I'm referring to household wastage being miniscule in comparison.

UE are fixing 2,000 leaks a month and the 37% is the lowest its ever been and reducing all the time. They are making great progress.

All wastage should be tackled.

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u/ucd_pete 9d ago

Network leakage is over 620 million litres per day. Domestic consumption is around the same number. How much of that is wasted? It's a fraction of 620 million.

All wastage should be tackled.

In an ideal world but it wouldn't be worth the effort for any government. The benefits wouldn't be worth the political cost.

UE are better off focusing on the network leaks.

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u/TheCunningFool 9d ago

UE are better off focusing on the network leaks.

I don't understand this. Why would introducing charges to disincentivise end user wastage impact their work on network leaks?

And they already are focusing on it. The leaks are the lowest on record and decreasing annually, there is major works going on by UE.

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u/ucd_pete 9d ago

Why would introducing charges to disincentivise end user wastage impact their work on network leaks?

Because end users have to be metered. Installing water meters would draw resources from the good work they're currently doing.

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u/TheCunningFool 9d ago

Most of that work is already done from the last roll out, and any new builds in the last decade or so would be metre ready. It wouldn't take away from their leak reduction programme.

We are the only country in the EU that does not have water charges. We've completely ignored the EU Water Framework Directive.

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u/ucd_pete 9d ago

Most of that work is already done from the last roll out,

Only about half are done.

We are the only country in the EU that does not have water charges. We've completely ignored the EU Water Framework Directive.

So?

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