Irish Water has detected over 30,000 suspected leaks on customer properties during its first meter reading cycle.

Metered bills for 150 customers show they are each using more than €1,000 worth of water in three months due to leaks within their property.

Irish Water has contacted 2,500 customers offering them a free leak investigation under its Interim First Fix Scheme.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has started public consultation on Irish Water's continuing Draft First Fix Leak Repair Scheme.

-- Advertisement --

Customer side leaks detected so far are wasting an estimated 46 million litres of water every day, according to Irish Water.

Jerry Grant Head of Asset Management with Irish Water, said: "Our national metering programme is well ahead of schedule and is already of huge benefit in tackling leakage. With our first billing cycle underway, customers who have a meter can see their usage on the reverse side of the bill.

"We can clearly see that had the capped charge not been in place, 150 customers would have received a first quarter bill of in excess of €1,000 each, due to leaks within their property.

"In each case these customers constant flow alarm on their meter was activated and each of these customers can avail of a free leak investigation as part of our Interim First Fix Scheme."

(CD/JP)