1. The Status of Water Services in County Galway A presentation to the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and Gaeltacht 27 th September 2011

2. Our Waters as a Resource for All Water Framework Directive – – New approach to the management of water resources from Catchment to Tap – – Maintain or restore quality to High or Good status – – Prepare and Implement Catchment or River Basin District plans

3. Enabling Legislation Surface and Groundwater Regulations Determine minimum standards Drinking Water Regulations Regulate the quality of Drinking Water Wastewater Discharge Regulations Licence Municipal Wastewater Discharges

4. Drinking Water Regulations A Public Health Priority Multiplicity of Supplies many with inadequate treatment 44 of which 30+ in need of improvement Concerted effort to upgrade Remedial Action Programme nearing completion Estimated final cost €15m County Galway Compliance Improvement 100% (E Coli) 2010 Water safety plans Group Water Schemes

5. Wastewater Discharge Regulations An Environmental Priority Impact on sensitive and other waters Significant number of plants many outdated and above capacity 30 of which 16 are in need of upgrade Licensing by EPA Licence 1Cert of Authorisation 5 to date How to address deficiencies A Remedial Action Programme to mirror the Water RAL Small Sewerage schemes

6. Water conservation 2005:Total production :65k m3/d 2005:Total production :65k m3/d :UFW:36k m3/d (55%) :UFW:36k m3/d (55%) 2008:Total production :63k m3/d 2008:Total production :63k m3/d :UFW:30k m3/d (48%) :UFW:30k m3/d (48%) 2011:Total production :59k m3/d 2011:Total production :59k m3/d :UFW:26k m3/d (44%) :UFW:26k m3/d (44%) Leak Repairs: 3750 detected Leak Repairs: 3750 detected :2250 public main :2250 public main :1500 private supply :1500 private supply

7. Unaccounted For Water - Trend

8. Water Services Investment Programme A Public Health, Environmental And Economic Priority! Pace of delivery needs acceleration 10 schemes to start construction by 2012 Affordability Issue Overall cost €95.9m – local contribution €25-30m estimated (excl. RAL and Water Conservation) Borrowing Capacity Limited €34m borrowed already for current commitments

9. Financial Implications Development Levies Exhausted €22m applied in period 2005-2010 Capital Borrowing Capacity €27m borrowed 2009-2010 €32m likely to be required 2011-2012 Repayment periods extended Operational Costs Constantly Increasing Impact of new and upgraded schemes, energy Network expansion through group scheme taking in charge Efficiencies achieved in energy usage and chemical costs. Revenue Diminishing Challenging economic climate

10. Revenue Budgetary trend Budget2008200920102011 O &M Water€11,44m€13,97m€14,00m€13,12m Waste Water€4,22m€4,66m€6,42m€5,46m Total€15,67m€18,62m€20,42m€18,59m Total Budget€160m€146m€149m€144m % of total budget 9.8%12.8%13.7%13.0%

11. Revenue Budgetary Trend Local Government Fund AllocationChangeCumulative 2008 to 2011 Cumulative 2008 to 2011 2008€40.60m 2009€36.88m- 9% 2010€36.09m- 2% 2011€32.84m- 9%- €7.76m-19%

12. National Water Pricing Policy Charge per M 3 2008200920102011Water Pricing Policy Cost 2011 Water0.891.001.051.101.49 Waste Water0.611.071.121.181.58 Consolidated1.502.072.172.283.07

13. Conclusion Streamline the process for delivery of water services infrastructure to promote public health, improve environmental quality and facilitate economic development Revise funding mechanism for capital investment to ensure affordability of water services projects Focus on compliance, conservation and economic development potential to ensure priorities are met An appropriate funding stream to meet the increasing cost of water services provision