Post-installation works on water meters ‘not a sign of faults’

Meters in clonskeagh, Dublin undergoing a ‘small correction that had to be worked out’

Local residents and Dublin Says No supporters at Elmfield Ave, Clarehall, Dublin, block a lorry which was helping install water meters in the area from leaving as the road tax was out of date. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Local residents and Dublin Says No supporters at Elmfield Ave, Clarehall, Dublin, block a lorry which was helping install water meters in the area from leaving as the road tax was out of date. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times

Irish Water has said work carried out on meters in a Dublin housing estate after they had been installed was simply the result of an “audit” process to ensure standards, and was not indicative of any technical problems.

Meters in The Maples, an estate off Bird Avenue in Clonskeagh, Dublin, were undergoing what an Irish Water spokeswoman described as a “small correction that had to be worked out”.

She explained each set of meters is subject to a follow-up audit to ensure they met certain criteria. Where there were any shortcomings, the contractors had to address them at no additional cost to Irish Water or customers.

The exact nature of the “correction” or fault was unclear last night but the company stressed meters were not being dug up or replaced.

READ MORE

“There will be no impact on charges or allowances as a result of these works,” the spokeswoman said, ruling out the possibility the “correction” was either a mechanical or technical issue with the hardware.

The installation programme began in August last year and billing began this month. However, to date about two-thirds of Irish homes have yet to have meters fitted.

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times