Water Services Revenue Expenditure
Water
The total estimated revenue expenditure on the operation and maintenance of all public water supply schemes in the county is €3,812,602 as compared with €3,713,889 for 2007.
Wastewater
The estimated Revenue Expenditure on the operation and maintenance of all Public Wastewater facilities for 2008 is €5,019,865 with €4,396,674 for 2007. This expenditure covers the cost of operating and maintaining all wastewater facilities in the County including those facilities included under the Grouped Operational Scheme.
Water Services Charges
In order to comply with national policy on water pricing local authorities are obliged to recover the cost from the non domestic customers of providing water services to them.
Charging the full cost of provision of water services will require a significant increase, particularly in the wastewater charge. This increase is mainly due to the increased cost in recent years of the maintenance and operation of new and existing wastewater infrastructure in order to comply with quality standards.
Water Conservation
The Council received a countywide allocation of €3.62m for this project. A successful pilot project was carried out on the Fethard Regional Scheme and as a result of same approval was granted by the Department to extend the project to the rest of the County. The first countywide phase of the project was implemented between November 2005 and December 2007. Phase 2 of the project is a comprehensive leak detection phase for the whole county, with DMA design for Clonmel Town and the building of Network Models for the Galtee RWSS and Clonmel Town schemes.
The project includes:
- implementation of district metering areas (70% complete)
- installation of bulk flow meters on regional schemes (80% complete)
- installation of telemetry systems to receive and transfer information (80% complete)
- leak detection and repair Build of Network Model for Fethard RWSS (100% complete) and
- Ardfinnan (50% complete).
Metering Programme
A key element of the Government’s Policy "A Framework for Water Pricing" is the requirement that all non-domestic customers be metered. Tenders were invited from Contractors for the metering of non-domestic customers in the small towns and villages throughout the county and this programme has been completed. Work is continuing on the completion of metering in rural areas in the county by plumbing crews recruited for this purpose, with the programme due for completion by March 2008.
Water Quality
The Council is required to carry out regular monitoring of public and group water supplies to assess water quality for human consumption. Monitoring results have indicated that the quality of water in this County is generally satisfactory. However, where deficiencies do occur and improvements are needed in the treatment of water supplies, such schemes are considered under the Water Services Investment Programme, the Small Schemes Programme, and funding from development contributions.
Water Connections
It is estimated that 300 water connections will be made in 2008. Water connections will be charged at cost.
Sewerage Connections
It is estimated that 13 sewerage connections will be carried out in 2008. These connections will be charged at cost.
Swimming Pool
The Swimming Pool in Tipperary Town was again utilised by a large number of people from Tipperary Town and its environs during 2007.
The Council has secured a grant in the amount of €129,850 from the Dormant Account Fund, to provide disabled access and facilities at the Pool. Moreover, a grant of €160,000 has been approved by the Community and Enterprise Section of the Council for these works under the scheme of Capital Grants for Recreational and Community Facilities and Amenities. A Contractor has been appointed to carry out the refurbishment works and works are scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2008. The pool will be closed to the public for this period.
Water Conservation
Water Awareness Programme