Irish householders who use excessive amounts of water may be hit with wastage fees of up to €500, it has been revealed.
And up to 70,000 households could be slapped with the charges next year if Irish Water get the go-ahead to implement the fees.
The utility company have submitted a proposal to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities who will decide if fees should be introduced by the end of the month.
And the regulator has already shown some support for the plan, noting that it “broadly satisfied the principles of fairness and equity”, The Irish Times reports.
However, the re-introduction of fees in any sense is likely to be met with staunch opposition.
It comes three years after Irish Water were forced to suspend household fees after they were met with intense resistance from both the public and politicians.
Irish Water is proposing a charge of €1.85 for every 1,000 litres used above the threshold of 213,000 litres per year, with a cap of €250.
Excess wastewater charges will also be capped at €250. And if a residence uses both fresh water, and wastewater, the householder would be liable for a charge of up to €500.
However, monitoring water usage could prove difficult as less than one million (60%) of Irish households have a water meter.
Irish Water have proposed an investigative method for the remaining 40% of unmetered homes, using a district meter to pinpoint excess usage.
Householders will then be offered the option of a water meter or flow monitoring device installed in their home.
If Irish Water's proposal is approved, customers can except a first "call to action" notification later this summer.
Approximately 10% of Irish Water customers use excess water, however, leaks account for much of this waste.
The "call to action" will offer a free repair service to customers who are losing water through a leak.
The first bills for excess use would be then issued from October 2020.
Exemptions may be granted in cases whether a family member with a medical condition.
Families with over four members can claim an allowance of 25,000 cubic metres per annum for every additional member.
