TD fears that arrival of water charges could lead to less washing

The introduction of water charges could result in a major deterioration in personal hygiene as cash-strapped families dramatically reduce the number of showers or baths they take.

That’s the fear expressed this week by Galway West TD Noel Grealish, who also predicted that the era of young females preparing for a night out with twenty minutes under the shower will also become a thing of the past.

Apart from the cost involved in the usage of water, he said there are now major concerns that the public will cut down significantly the amount of times they will wash.

An even those who are involved in the sale of electrical appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines are expected to take a major hit in their sales over the coming years as details about the water metering is being drip-fed to the public.

But families are being assured that the cost of taking a shower could be as little as a couple of cent – although details of the charges that are to be imposed have yet to be revealed.

Galway West TD Noel Grealish said that he could envisage families, particularly those less well off, taking fewer showers than they are currently having and said that this would be regrettable.

“But the day of the young woman spending 20 minutes under a shower before she goes out on a Saturday night will certainly become a thing of the past,” Deputy Grealish added.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.