Into the future

Rural Water News Autumn 2006
Comment
As our cover story suggests, the future management of group
water schemes is an issue that must be addressed. While voluntary
community control will remain our bedrock, there is no
escaping the fact that voluntarism generally is in decline. After
full consideration of the new operating environment for
schemes, the NFGWS Board is unequivocal in its assessment
that we need to employ people with the necessary skills to take
care of the day-to-day business of a modern water service. We
should move now to employ paid management and staff, working
under the direction of the GWS Board.
***
As the hot summer weather becomes an ever-distant memory,
some of the issues that arose for water service providers during
the long dry spell should neither be forgotten nor ignored.
In particular, many public and private suppliers experienced a
rapid and serious depletion of their raw water sources as consumption
exploded and lakes and groundwater sources had
difficulty recharging fast enough to meet the demand.
And even in circumstances where sources had sufficient water,
the exceptional demand meant that treatment plants were operating
far beyond their design capacity.
Perhaps this year was a flash in the pan and in nine months
time we will return to our ‘traditional’ Irish summer, but as
water service providers, we need to prepare for the worst case
scenario and to vastly improve the management of water
resources by recognising the limits of our sources and, where
possible, eliminating water wastage.
Both group water schemes and public schemes have to react
more quickly in periods of drought and, where necessary,
introduce bans on the use of hosepipes, car washes, domestic
swimming pools and other non-essential uses of water.
Consideration should also be given to interconnecting back-up
sources to the main supply.
These are issues that should not and can not be put on the long
finger.
***
In this issue, we highlight the unscrupulous behaviour of some
of those selling individual water treatment systems to households.
As water service providers, we need to be vigilant.
Where we see companies preying on our communities, we
should document and highlight their activities and stress to our
members the potential dangers of such systems. At present,
massive public and GWS monies are being invested in ensuring
a quality drinking water supply. We cannot allow these companies
to go unchallenged in undermining public confidence in
our treated supplies. They should be challenged to scientifically
prove the claims they make – in other words put up or shut up.
And until a law is introduced to deal with scare-mongering
sales techniques, group schemes are urged to contact the
Federation with any information or concerns they may have
about the operation of such companies.
Disclaimer
While every care has been taken to ensure that the information
contained in this publication is up to date and correct, no
responsibility will be taken by the National Federation of
Group Water Schemes for any error which might occur.
Although grateful for the support of our advertisers, readers
should note that inclusion of an advertisement does not imply
any form of recommendation.
We try to ensure the reliability of advertisers, but Rural
Water News cannot accept liability for the quality of goods and
services offered.
3
Water regulation imminent
legislation to be enacted this term
Delegates to this year’s
Rural Water Services conferences
in Sligo and Cavan
were left in no doubt that
the long-awaited Water
Services Bill will be enacted
in the coming term. And
there were firm indications
from Environment Minister
Dick Roche, TD, that introduction
of the legislation
will be followed by new,
stringent regulations aimed
at community-owned water
service providers.
Unsavoury
Speaking at the official opening
of DBO treatment plants
across County Sligo on 20
July, Minister Roche
announced the introduction of
what he termed ‘a new regulatory
framework for the
group water scheme sector’.
Warning that he would no
longer tolerate situations
where rural families are
denied access to quality
drinking water because of
what he termed ‘intransigence
or lack of initiative by local
authorities or by group water
schemes’, the Minister
emphasised that an alternative
was available to those
facing sanctions. Pointing to
the Sligo DBO bundle project
as an example for others to
follow, he said:
‘I have a strong preference
for the carrot of adequate
resourcing and support – as
opposed to the stick of stringent
legislation – to encourage
group schemes to move
in the right direction. Group
schemes have nothing to
fear from better regulation,
while consumers have
everything to gain. I guarantee
that funding will not be a
constraint on progress.’
ACMI
Solutions to Water Conservation
ACMI is a Water Metering Service Provider.
We are a company dedicated to providing cost
effective products and services for the
enhancement of Water Conservation.
We Design - Supply - Install and Commission
• Automatic Meter Reading Systems
• Meter Consumption Data Collection &
Billing Services
• Boundary Boxes and Meters
• Group Scheme - Non Domestic and Industrial
Water Metering Systems
• Leakage Detection – Leak Location and Leak
Repair Service
• Pressure and Flow Surveys
• Meter Calibration and Verification
• Pressure Reducing Valves
Unit 2, Ryebrook Business Park,
Leixlip, Co Kildare
Tel: 01 6244274 Fax: 01 6244953
Email: info@acmi.ie