Proposal seeks to stop charges for undrinkable water – Naughten

In Infrastructure by Denis Naughten

If you can’t drink it, you shouldn’t pay for it

waterDenis Naughten TD is proposing that water charges should not be imposed on homes where the public water supply is not safe to drink.

Speaking in the Dáil today Deputy Naughten said “I believe that it is totally unacceptable that families who are forced to buy bottled water because the water in their taps is unsafe to drink should have to pay for that water”.

“Presently there are 30 public water supplies where the water is not safe to drink. Is it fair that these people have to pay for a water supply where they are forced to buy bottled water just to brush their teeth?”   

“Not only would my proposal help to ease the financial pressure placed on some families who have to purchase bottled water to replace an unacceptable public water supply but, more importantly, it will ensure that Irish Water prioritises such supplies to ensure that it is safe to drink.

“Why should those people be asked to pay for water which does not meet the most basic of standards?”

Denis Naughten has tabled an amendment to the Water Services Bill before the Dáil today to ensure that any family, who cannot drink their public water supply, will not be charged for it.

“I hope that Government takes this proposal on board, as I don’t believe that anybody can stand over a situation where a person can be charged for a water supply which does not even meet the basic human requirement of being able to drink it,” added Denis Naughten.

“I believe this is the only way to ensure that the on-going issues regarding the quality of some water supplies are addressed once and for all.”