Galway water meters to be installed in coming days

The water charges crux reaches boiling point in Galway in the coming days as meter installation gets underway in the county against a backdrop of mass protest, boycotting of bills and resistance to meters.

Irish Water, the public utility, has confirmed the roll-out of its water meter installation programme across County Galway has commenced.

Irish Water says it expects to install some 30,000 meters across County Galway.

It has confirmed it is beginning its installation programme in South Galway, starting in Kinvara and Portumna and moving from there across the rest of the county. Irish Water said metering will commence in the city this year but it declined to say when.

In a statement to the Connacht Tribune, Irish Water said: “As part of the current phase of the national metering programme water meters are being installed outside domestic residences on publicly-accessible land. These meters are being installed in line with the survey results as carried out by each local authority, and in compliance with the Water Services Acts. We estimate that there in the region of 30,000 properties suitable for metering. Metering will commence in the Kinvara and Portumna areas and moving from there through the county. Metering in Galway City is not expected to commence until later this year.”

The Galway Right2Water campaign has been leaflet-dropping in city estates over the past few days in attempt to drum up support for Saturday’s protest.

Government has been forced to make concessions on water charges, including a €100 rebate, but the We Won’t Pay campaign say the concessions don’t go far enough.

They are fighting for abolition of the charges.

A spokesperson said: “All the concessions that have been made can be over turned in the future and are therefore meaningless. We need to maintain the pressure on the Government and get these charges abolished completely.”

The group argues that no fines or penalties are due to be issued to non payers for up to 15 months after the first bill is due, and so “the impetus is with the people to withhold payment and keep the pressure on the Government and Irish Water”.

Tomorrow (Monday, February 2) at 8pm, the We Won’t Pay campaign is hosting a public meeting in the Pillo Hotel on the Headford Road. Anti-Austerity Alliance TDs Paul Murphy and Joe Higgins will discuss building mass non-payment of the charges.