{"id":11896,"date":"2022-06-06T11:40:35","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T11:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=11896"},"modified":"2023-07-22T14:29:21","modified_gmt":"2023-07-22T14:29:21","slug":"commercial-water-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/commercial-water-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Service Charges"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/commercial-water-charges\/#Background\" title=\"Background\">Background<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/commercial-water-charges\/#Service_Charges\" title=\"Service Charges\">Service Charges<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/commercial-water-charges\/#Local_Authorities\" title=\"Local Authorities\">Local Authorities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/commercial-water-charges\/#Charges\" title=\"Charges\">Charges<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/commercial-water-charges\/#Disconnection\" title=\"Disconnection\">Disconnection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/commercial-water-charges\/#Irish_Water\" title=\"Irish Water\">Irish Water<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/commercial-water-charges\/#Waste\" title=\"Waste\">Waste<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Background\"><\/span>Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The local authorities had power to charge for water.\u00a0 The local authority charge for water may be waived partly or completely on grounds of hardship. Irish Water is now their successor.<\/p>\n<p>An appeal may be made to the Minister where a person is aggrieved by the level of charge within 12 months of fixing the charge. A local authority may supply water by meter.<\/p>\n<p>A charge for the supply of water for domestic purposes could be recovered from consumer.\u00a0 The consumer was the occupier of the premises for which the supply is provided.\u00a0 Where charges were payable, they were payable in half yearly instalments.\u00a0 Where not paid, they are recoverable as a simple debt.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Service_Charges\"><\/span>Service Charges<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Local Government (Financial Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 1983 empowered local authorities to impose service charges for water, sewage and refuse services.<\/p>\n<p>The imposition of service charges was made a reserved function in 1985.\u00a0 A number of cases challenged the imposition of specific service charges, in which it was held that the charges must be specifically related to particular services. In some cases, a charge is not permissible, unless \u00a0the service is actually provided to the individual concerned.<\/p>\n<p>Other cases held that charges could not be imposed for general public rights, such as the right to connect drains into the sanitary authority&#8217;s sewers.\u00a0 An attempt to collect refuse charges under the provisions which enable local authorities to make the requirements regarding the presentation of waste (requiring particulars showing payment) was held invalid, as it was \u00a0not intended to be a charging provision.\u00a0 The charge was collectible but the authority could not refuse to collect the bin.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Local_Authorities\"><\/span>Local Authorities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A requirement for water charges derives from EU \u00a0legislation on the protection of natural resources.\u00a0 Local authorities were required to install water meters in all commercial premises once the directive takes effect.\u00a0 New premises must make provision for water meters under planning\/building regulations requirement.<\/p>\n<p>Local authority may levy commercial water charges.\u00a0 Water charges are payable for water used by business, trade or manufacturers, supplier.\u00a0 This includes hospitals, homes of persons of mental and physical disabilities, maternity homes, convalescent homes, laboratories, health centres, schools and clubs.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Charges\"><\/span>Charges<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There is a flat rate and meter charge basis. A flat rate charge is payable to the local authority.\u00a0 It estimates the water use and charges accordingly.\u00a0 It is based on the type of business concerned.<\/p>\n<p>With meter \u00a0charging, \u00a0the usage as shown by the meter determines the bills subject to a minimum charge per year together with rental for the meter itself. The charge is usually made quarterly. Meters are installed on large premises such as factories.\u00a0 This are read by water meters quarterly.\u00a0 EU Law will strictly require all commercial premises to have a water meter.<\/p>\n<p>Where water is provided for domestic and commercial use, a domestic allowance is made.\u00a0 The domestic allowance is set up 235 cubic meters per year by Department for Environment although local authorities may allow different allowances.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disconnection\"><\/span>Disconnection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Local authorities had power to discontinue water where a charge remained unpaid for two months.\u00a0 The cost of discontinuance and reconnection is recoverable.\u00a0 Power to disconnect does not apply to domestic water supply.<\/p>\n<p>Discontinuance may be allowed where there is failure to pay an instalment order after if the District Court so permit.\u00a0 The court must be satisfied that he \u00a0procedure provided for has been followed and that the customer was not in default in \u00a0payment due to hardship<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Irish_Water\"><\/span>Irish Water<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Waste\"><\/span>Waste<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Local authorities may charge for waste collection services under the protection of the Environment Act, 2003.\u00a0 The county manager is given power to determine the level or charges and job scheme for entitlement to waiver.<\/p>\n<p>Under the waste management act, local authorities have a broad obligation to collect or arrange for the collection of domestic waste.\u00a0Most households are obliged to pay for waste charges either to a private contractor or local authority.\u00a0 It may be charged by way of a slot fee and\/or being tokens of combination.<\/p>\n<p>Local authorities provide reception centres for the collection of bulk waste.\u00a0 They may undertake occasional collection.<\/p>\n<p>Tax relief was formerly available for waste charges until 2012.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-11896\" data-postid=\"11896\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-11896 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Background The local authorities had power to charge for water.\u00a0 The local authority charge for water may be waived partly or completely on grounds of hardship. Irish Water is now their successor. An appeal may be made to the Minister where a person is aggrieved by the level of charge within 12 months of fixing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[337],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11896"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11896"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11898,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11896\/revisions\/11898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}