The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Ireland’s independent energy and water regulator, has published its 2023 Water Reports that detail the performance of Uisce Éireann across a wide range of metrics.
The publications incorporate the performance and monitoring data provided to the CRU and areas of improvement regarding the performance of Ireland’s state-owned water utility.
Uisce Éireann Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) Monitoring Report 2023
Under the Uisce Éireann Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) Monitoring Report 2023, Uisce Éireann’s performance is measured against defined metrics by the CRU and is linked to investments totaling approx. €2 billion by UÉ across water and wastewater infrastructure in Ireland during 2023.
The CRU says the significant investment by Uisce Éireann is welcomed and delivered certain improvements - the report also outlines some areas of underperformance and required improvement by the water utility.
Uisce Éireann’s approved Strategic Funding Plan 2025-2029 and its recent Revenue Control 4 submission to CRU provides for a forecast spend of up to €16.9 billion over the five-year period to 2029 to deliver Uisce Éireann’s capital programme and operating costs to achieve critical improvements in outcomes for customers and communities.
Water Quality
A target of zero, with regards to boil water notices, has been set by the CRU, with the objective of improving the quality of water in Irish public water systems. In 2023, 204 people were served by a supply on a drinking water restriction notice for greater than 30 days, which does not allow for any consumption for greater than 30 days during that period, representing an improvement over the period.
Data published shows 62,645 water customers were affected by boil water notices for periods longer than 30 days. This is from a customer base of over 1.8 million customers, 90% of which were domestic households and 10% were non-domestic customers, with 32,102 of these registered as vulnerable customers.
To help drive improvements in performance, Uisce Éireann has reported that it continues to invest in water treatment plant upgrades, rationalisation projects and water mains replacement projects which aim to have a positive impact on the resilience of supplies and contribute to a lower number of water restrictions being imposed.
Water Sector Customer Report (WSCR) 2023
In addition to the PAF report, the Water Sector Customer Report (WSCR) 2023 provides information on the number of customers that receive water/wastewater services. According to the WSCR, Uisce Éireann connected an additional 23,345 customers throughout this period, highlighting its increased demand and commitment to accelerating national housing targets.
Uisce Éireann has estimated that 10% of metered households accounted for c. 37% of total water consumption and the top 1% (approximately 9,000 households), accounted for c. 15% of total metered household demand, indicating a high leakage rate in these households.
Uisce Éireann’s data outlines that the top 10% of households on average used 464,000 litres (15.9 baths per day) of water in 2023, compared to the average household that used 125,600 litres (4.3 baths per day). The top 1% of households used on average 1.9 million litres (63.6 baths per day).
In addressing this, the CRU acknowledges the success of Uisce Éireann’s First Fix Scheme which has seen water savings of 235 million litres per day, the equivalent of 2.9 million baths a day, since its introduction in 2015.
Under the First Fix Scheme, domestic customers may be entitled to a free leak repair if they have a leak in their driveway or garden. The CRU is urging all customers to engage with Uisce Éireann and make use of the free repair service.
The CRU said it recognises the urgency of progress that has been made by Uisce Éireann is important through the Uisce Éireann Transformation (UÉT) Programme, that is due to conclude by 2027, as it seeks to bring all systems and operations under one national utility. The regulator says it also looks forward to seeing greater evidence of a more effective and efficient national water utility as the programme concludes.
Click here to access the CRU reports online
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