THE recent abolition of water charges, which has been welcomed by householders in urban areas, will create chaos and cause major water quality problems in rural areas, according to Dr Jerry Cowley, chairman of the Mayo Federation of Group Water Schemes, which was launched last week.
Residents in rural areas have for decades had to depend on county council assisted group water schemes and private group water schemes, more than 1,000 of which operate in the State.
According to Dr Cowley, such schemes are now likely to disintegrate since people no longer feel they should have to pay maintenance and management costs when their neighbours, who might live just on the other side of the town boundary, do not.
"Rural communities," he said, "have been managing these schemes very successfully and for nothing for donkeys years and on a voluntary basis. Now, in one fell swoop, Minister Howlin has decided to abolish water charges all over Ireland, leaving the people who run these schemes with subscribers who no longer wish to subscribe."
Mr Howlin has offered local authorities an initial £18 million, plus an annual grant of £5 million, to fund the takeover of the schemes.
Five delegates from each county in the State are to attend a National Group Water Scheme meeting in Athlone on February 16th.
The Border Regional Authority, which represents a number of county councils in the northeast, is to ask Mr Howlin to introduce special grants.
Yesterday, Councillor Padraig McNally, from Monaghan, said: "There is unanimous support from councillors in several counties for our demand to the Minister. We are hopeful he will make the necessary funds available so that rural residents won't be discriminated against in the supply of water".