Ervia director backs public utility model for Irish Water

A public utility model is the best way of managing the State's water service, the Dublin Economic Workshop annual conference heard.

Brendan Murphy, who is director of group commercial and regulation at Ervia, which has overall responsibility for Irish Water and Gas Networks Ireland.

Speaking at the DEW conference in Athlone’s Hodson Bay Hotel, on Friday Mr Murphy outlined the case for establishing a single national utility to operate the State’s water services.

Mr Murphy claimed the public utility model was the best way to ensure a long-term approach to planning, eliminate duplication and enable the utility to borrow money independently of Government.

He said decades of under-investment and a fragmented industry structure – it was previously run by 34 local authorities – had left the Irish water industry in severe difficulties.

The average age of the water mains infrastructure here is estimated at 65- 85 years, compared to an EU average of close to 36 years.

He also noted up to 49 per cent of water produced was lost to leakage from the distribution network due to its age and quality.

The utility’s recently published business plan indicates it is planning to spend €5.5 billion over the period up to 2021 to upgrade the system.