Levels of wastage remain extraordinarily high, largely due to a long-term failure to maintain the distribution network. In Dublin, the delivery of treated water is just about enough to meet demand. The strongest critique of Irish Water’s plan has been made by campaigning lawyer and investment analyst Emma Kennedy. In England, as she has pointed out, 13 of its 22 privately-owned water utilities have managed to reduce leakage levels to less than 20 per cent. Significantly, Irish Water’s Shannon project is now being independently reviewed by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

Source: The Irish Times July 18, 2019 23:03 UTC