Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025.

This Water Services Policy Statement sets out the range of policy objectives across the key thematic areas of quality, conservation and future-proofing that we believe must and will be pursued between now and 2025 in order to achieve this vision. This Water Services Policy Statement is a highlevel statement of Government policy. It identifies key policy objectives and priorities for the delivery of water and wastewater services in Ireland over the period to 2025. It will provide the context within which necessary funding and investment plans by Irish Water will be framed and agreed. The Policy Statement will also inform the on-going development of rural water services, in tandem with the review of this sector which commenced in April 2018. This Policy Statement is in four Parts. Part 1 describes the current policy environment and background to the preparation of the Policy Statement. It explains the preparatory process and the policy elements that inform its content. Part 2 sets out the high-level policy principles which will inform water services activities for the period of the Statement. Part 3 builds on these high level principles by setting out key themes to guide the development and delivery of water services, together with associated policy objectives. Taken together, the principles, themes and policy objectives outlined at Parts 2 and 3 give clear direction to strategic planning and decision making on water and wastewater services in Ireland. Finally, Part 4 identifies and describes the governance structures and responsibilities that assist in ensuring oversight of, and accountability for, the delivery of water and wastewater services.
Safe drinking water is essential to the day-today activities of households, communities, social services and the economy. Unsafe water supplies risk public health, inconvenience daily life and inhibit economic activity. Significant capital investment, together with operational and management improvements, are required to optimize the performance of our water and wastewater systems. Priority objectives include – Substantial State investment, through Irish Water and the Rural Water Programme, to improve compliance with public health and environmental standards, with particular reference to the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021. Bringing and maintaining public water and wastewater services to acceptable international benchmarks, verified by independent monitoring and reporting. Achieving improved outcomes in quality in respect of drinking water and in wastewater in relation to rural and private water services. Adopting forward planning and risk management approaches to minimize the impact of non-compliances with all relevant EU Directives and to safeguard against future compliance risks. The Policy Statement outlines specific objectives in relation to: Drinking water quality, Rural and private water services, the National Lead Strategy and Marine waters. Conservation Responsible environmental, social and economic policy means that conservation must be firmly embedded at the heart of water services policy. The abstraction and treatment of water is costly and impacts on the natural environment. Priority objectives include – Embedding conservation at the heart of water policy involves prioritizing resource management, abstraction control, source protection, tackling leakage and encouraging behavioural change. The promotion of water conservation and water resource management is to be reflected in strategic investment planning by Irish Water, to include work programmes around leak detection and repair, network improvements, cost effective metering, public awareness campaigns and funding to fix customer side leaks. Water conservation will inform the Working Group on the review of rural water services, and investment decisions in this area. The Policy Statement outlines specific objectives in relation to: resource management and source protection, tackling leakage, reducing water usage and encouraging behavioural change through awareness, education and information. An Fóram Uisce (the National Water Forum) has a specific role in examining and making recommendations on further strategic policy responses to improve water conservation.