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Water Services Training Group 17th Annual Conference

Creating a new Irish Water Industry

INEC, Killarney, 5th September 2013

Creating a new Irish Water Industry

Irish Water- Domestic Metering Programme Update

Fergus Collins, Project Manager

INTRODUCTION TO THE METERING PROGRAMME

Metering Programme 2013

Metering Programme 2013

West:J Murphy & Sons Ltd

North-West:GMC| Sierra Ltd

South- West:J Murphy & Sons Ltd

South-East:GMC|Sierra Ltd

Dublin County: Farrans ConstructionDublin City:GMC|Sierra Ltd

Midlands:GMC|Sierra Ltd

North-East:Coffey/Northumbrian Ltd

In Scope Programme for Government (March 2011) set an objective to “install

water meters in every household in Ireland and to move to a charging system that is based on use above a free allowance.”

Phase 1 of the Irish Water Meter Programme is tasked with the installation of up to 1.05m meters on domestic properties that have a dedicated public water supply by December 2016.

Installation involves placement of a single concentric (screw-in) water meter with AMR in an external boundary box at each domestic property in Ireland with the following exceptions:

Metering Programme Scope

• All properties in apartment blocks

• All properties in ‘Gated Communities’

• Any properties in ‘Ghost Estates’

• Non Domestic

• Mixed Non Domestic /Domestic Use

• Private Group Schemes• Public Group Schemes• Back yard Services• Shared Supply• Connection inaccessible

• Defective Supply Pipe• Derelict • Under Construction• Unsuitable Ground• Low Pressure• Private Wells• Works in specialist paving*

Phase 1 Metering Programme What can be done

Phase 1 Programme Current Scope Metering of Domestic Households only External water meters only – in public accessible land Irish Water own the meter/radio asset Meter serial number is a legal billing requirement

Irish Water have powers to install and maintain the boundary box/meter/radio

Customer can access boundary box Read meter Operate OSV Cannot remove meter or radio unit

What will it NOT involve

The Metering Project Phase 1 is very specific to domestic customers

Local Authorities will continue to be responsible up to January 2014 for: Water Quality Water Pressure Maintenance of Water Network, etc.

The project will not involve extensive footpath or road surface repairs or works inside homes.

Engagement & Communications

Engagement Tools

Metering Team- Operational communications with LAs Road Opening Protocol Stakeholder & Communications Manager for MP (On site

escalation/ programme update/ planning/ messaging)

External Communications Team- Elected Members, Media and interested groups Regional Communications Team PR and Media Strategy

Customer Team- General Public Metering Customer Communications Packs Above the Line Advertising campaign Regional Advertising Website

Road Opening Protocol

• Compiled by the CCMA and the DECLG • Issued to all County Managers and Directors of Service (Roads and

Water) • Sets out the framework for operational liaison for the IW metering

programme with Local Authorities • Contact via Regional Managers is made with the LA 2 months prior to

works commencing in their area (this will extend to 3 months from September)

• This protocol looks at (not an exclusive list)- Planned works- Events - Burst histories- Traffic Management - Moratorium on Pavements - Communications with LA on ongoing basis- Traffic Management Information

Customer Communications in support of the Meter Installation

Programme There are a range of customer communications in support of the Meter Installation Programme:

• Irish Water Website – website to launch in advance of the meter installation commencing. Website will contain a range of customer information on metering and the programme, as well as contact details for Irish Water Website is live: www.water.ie

• Direct customer communications – there are a series of customer leaflets and cards which will be delivered directly to houses scheduled for a meter box and water meter installation

o Pack 1 – will be delivered at least 14 days in advance of the installation o Pack 2 – will be delivered at least 2 days in advance of the installationo Cards – a range of cards have been developed for use by the installers at the time of the

installation in response to difference events

Packs issuing to customers from 25th July

• Regional Press – there will be press ads placed in local newspapers in support of the meter installation programme in that area.

Press ads appearing in chosen local titles from week commencing 22nd July

Customer Communications in support of the Meter Installation

Programme

Customer Leaflets

Pack 1 – delivered to homes scheduled for meter installation at

least 14 days in advance

Pack 2 – delivered to homes scheduled for meter installation at

least 2 days in advance

Customer Cards

Cards – to be used by the meter installers in response to instances occurring during the installation e.g.

• Customer not at home so unable to prove supply• Metering installation postponed • Installation begun but not completed on same day

Quality

Key Performance IndicatorsAudits on the following will be carried out by Irish Water Staff:

• HSQE Inspection score• Safety• Quality – Corrective Action Response Time• Environmental• Compliance with programme• Complaints management• Report of Incidents• Customer Satisfaction• Data Returns• AMR Signal reads• Permanent Reinstatement and Site Clearance• Contractor Resources• Training• Social Inclusion• Compliance with Employers Claims Handling protocol• Contractor Management Response

Training

• All Contractor staff are required to undertake the following training:- Metering Induction- Safe Pass- Manual Handling- CSCS Signing Lighting & Guarding- CSCS H&S at Roadworks

• Contractor staff that are installing Boundary Box/Meters and Irish Water metering field staff have to undertake the Training Course developed by the WSTG with Irish Water.

• Training as a KPI - Irish Water will be carrying out audits to ensure that these training requirements are met.

 

Meters and Boundary Boxes

Framework Agreements

Framework agreements have been signed for the following:• Meters• Boundary Boxes; and • Meter fittings

Two types of meter:• Itron Meter• Diehl Meter

Two types of Boundary Box:• Talbot Matrix • Ebco

LA Survey UpdateCARLOW COUNTY COUNCIL 15868

CAVAN COUNTY COUNCIL 10870

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL 15780

CORK C ITY COUNCIL 17190

CORK COUNTY COUNCIL 73189

DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL 19241

DUBLIN C ITY COUNCIL 59010

DUN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL

32011

FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL 65828

GALWAY C ITY COUNCIL 10594

GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL 19191

KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL 39868

KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL 44076

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL 20439

LAOIS COUNTY COUNCIL 22772

LEITRIM COUNTY COUNCIL 5969

LIMERICK C ITY COUNCIL 16515

LIMERICK COUNTY COUNCIL 37772

LONGFORD COUNTY COUNCIL 7641

LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL 22271

MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL 25126

MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL 50842

MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL 9133

NORTH TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNCIL

21608

OFFALY COUNTY COUNCIL 14613

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL 10392

SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL 10463

SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

43960

SOUTH TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNCIL

15352

WATERFORD C ITY COUNCIL 18968

WATERFORD COUNTY COUNCIL 19897

WESTMEATH COUNTY COUNCIL 18391

WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL 35640

WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL 35950

Total 886,430

The metering programme

• Under the delivery plan, the country has been sub-divided into 8 regions, each comprising approximately 125k planned installation points.

• 8 regional contracts have been awarded and 4 Regional Contractors (RCs) have been appointed to date.

• GMC/Sierra Limited; J Murphy & Sons Limited; Coffey Northumbrian Limited; and Farrans Construction

• In the first three months, water meters will be installed in Kildare, moving swiftly to Kerry, Meath, Wexford, Dublin City, Limerick, Mayo and Fingal.

• Over 1 million meters will be installed between July 2014 and Dec 2016