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The final straw — 9 Comments

  1. Interesting article – but you are totally misrepresenting what I said when you say:

    After all, if that is Anna’s attitude it is also likely to be the attitude of a lot of others, including non-Raccoonites.

    First of all, let’s put to rest this idea that we have been receiving our supplies for free up until now. "

    What I said was: 

    At the moment, water delivery is paid for by taxation – meaning that only those with jobs or businesses are paying for it. Water meters mean that everybody pays for what they use – shades of the Poll Tax and the ill named ‘Bedroom Tax’ here.

    Even the BBC coverage of this charge started off with ‘Tap water in the Republic of Ireland until now has been free’. It has never been ‘free’. Other people were paying for it – it didn’t get into your tap by dint of a leprechaun. Now that organisation so beloved of the left – the EU and the IMF – have insisted that the charge be equally apportioned.

    Now which bit of "It has never been free" led you to the idea that 'Anna's atittude' was that consumers were complaining about a service which had up til then been free? 

    Repeat after me – 'It has never been free' said Anna, 'It has never been free'. 

    Further, there was no implication that metering would reduce the completely solve the problem of leakage – merely that should the leakage be your responsibility, i.e. on your side of the meter – Irish Water were still prepared to pay for the repairs – initially at least. Presumably if it happens again, you will have to pay yourself. 

    Very glad to have you as a reader, but if you are going to link to my blog, do ensure that you are actually quoting me correctly. 

    • Welcome Anna!  My sincere apologies.  What I meant was that it appeared to be your readers' attitude [I have amended the text accordingly].  In my cack-handed way I suppose I was referring to the discussion rather than the post.

      There does seem to be a widespread attitude though that "we pay for our water so why shouldn't the Irish"?  Indeed that is one of the arguments put up by our government – "they pay for it, so you lot can damn well pay for it too".  Countries differ though, and while some may envy our "free water" we may look on in envy at others health systems [for example]. 

      Speaking just from a personal viewpoint, I would be more inclined to pay for a water service if I got any kind of value for money.  As it is, my water supply is virtually undrinkable, as it contains fluoride and chlorine [at times the kitchen smells like a public baths just from running a tap].  If they reduced my pressure, the system would have to go into reverse as pressure is nonexistent.  And to cap it all, we regularly lose water altogether for days at a time in Spring when the filter beds clog up. I am not alone in this, as there are swathes of the country under semi-permanent "boil water" notices due to contaminated supplies.  A proper investment plan to upgrade the system would be more in order than just burdening us with more taxation and wasting our money on setting up companies?

  2. "Anna mentions the prospect of drilling a private well but this is not only very expensive [despite some grants] but is also out of the question for the vast majority of households."

    I can remember many years ago reading of a Pub Owner (on the Yorkshire Moors?) who had his own water supply.   The Waterboard sent him a 'stiff' letter stating that they owned all the water and he must pay the water charge.

    His response was that when the Pub was flooded in winter – a regular occurrence – he would send them the bill for cleaning up the mess.

  3. Isn't it amazing that Oxfam only need £2 a month to supply water to an African Village, yet Scottish water charge me £200 a year to supply my house!

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