Irish Water
Water Challenges in Ireland - Opportunities
for Advanced Technologies & Innovation in
the Creation of a New Utility
Ryan Institute Seminar Series, NUI Galway
18th October, 2013
Padraic J Fogarty, Irish Water Programme
Content
• Overview on establishment of Irish Water
• Irish Water – Vision and Strategy
• Irish Water – Challenges and Opportunities for
Innovation
Irish Government policy on water reform
•
•
Announced on 17th April, 2012
Creation of a new public water utility, Irish Water
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•
•
Extend role of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to include economic
regulation of the public water sector
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue as Environmental Regulator
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–
•
Regulation of Drinking Water Quality
Regulation of Waste Water discharges
A new funding regime
–
–
•
Subsidiary of Bord Gáis,
Take over responsibility for delivering public water and waste water services from 34 Local
Authorities
Operations to be undertaken by Local Authorities under Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Introduction of Domestic water charges and Metering Programme for Domestic Customers
Raising capital on international markets so that, in the future, Irish Water will be financially selfsustaining
These measures represent one of the most ambitious reform programmes
undertaken in the history of the State
Irish Water Programme
3
Update on Irish Water Programme
2013
By end 2013
IW management team in place
Primary legislation enacted
Irish Water established as legal entity
Creation of a utility with appropriate corporate governance policies and
procedures
Call centre is live
Meter programme underway
National wide public communications campaign underway
Establishment of Irish Water Organisation – People, Processes and Systems
Irish Water Programme
4
Irish Water Programme milestones
2014
During 2014
Irish Water becomes operational
Billing system ready
Assets transfer to IW in tandem with operational responsibility
IW responsible for capital planning & delivery
Service Level Agreements in place with LAs
Non-domestic billing transfers to Irish Water
Metering ramped up to average of 27,000 per month
Irish Water Programme
5
Irish Water - Our Vision of the Future
“We value water as a precious natural resource
on which the quality of life depends”
“Through responsible stewardship, efficient
management and strong partnerships, Ireland
has a world-class water infrastructure that
ensures secure and sustainable water services,
essential for our health, our communities, the
economy and the environment.”
Our Brand Values
The values that are at
the heart of the Irish
Water brand
Responsibility
Stewardship,
partnership, inclusion, safeguarding for the next
generation
Expertise
Knowledge, quality, technical excellence,
progressive, solutions-orientated
Integrity
Transparent, accountable,
honest, fair
7
Efficiency
Responsive, fiscal responsibility, capital utilisation,
customer service, delivering
IrishWater
Sustainable Water Services
Framework
Balanced Approach
Across the 3 Pillars
of Sustainability
Economic
Social
Irish Water Programme
Stakeholder &
Customer Focus
In Planning Process
Environmental
Evidenced Based Approach
8
Programme
IrishWater
Programme
Key Elements of Irish Water’s Sustainability Framework
• Resource Efficiency
• Climate Change
• Habitats & Wildlife
• Culture & Heritage
• Equity & Economic Development
• Health & Amenities
Sustainable Water Services
Complex Decision Making Process
IrishWater
Programme
EPA
Licences
Wastewater
& Sludge
DREAM
Dynamic
Risk
Assessment
Model
Irish Water
25 Yr. Plan
Or Water
Services
Strategic
Plan
Waste
Water
Regulations
(Licensing)
Regional
Authorities
10
River Basin
Management Plan
Policy
European
Directive
Tier 2 – Draft - EPA
Tier 1 – Governance
Department
Input from wider stakeholder groups,
Climate Change, Agri Sector, Forestry
Irish Water Programme
Irish Water
Price Control
Submission
Regional Economic &
Spatial Plan
Legal Requirement
Irish
Drinking
Water
Regulations
CER Revenue Review
Funding Available
EPA
Remedial
Actions
List (Water)
Local Government, IDA, ForFas,
and Enterprise needs.
Irish
Water
Rest of
Water
Sector
Overall Approach
IrishWater
Programme
Meeting Stakeholder Expectations – Irish Water Focus
• Outcome focus - prioritise investment that will deliver real
improvement
• Need to strengthen analytical capabilities / understanding (modelling)
• May involve re-visiting some existing strategies / approaches
• Evidence based – build data & modelling to support plans
• Cost - effective technical solutions
• Justifications
• CER & EPA
• WFD phasing / exemptions & EU perspectives
• Balanced contribution of different water users
11
Irish Water Programme
Water Services Assets
Water Supply
Throughput
(m3/day)
12
Irish Water Programme
Programme
Wastewater
No. of Water
Supply Zones
> 20,000
10,000 to 20,000
5,000 to 10,000
1,000 to 5,000
<1,000
Total for Water
IrishWater
15
11
34
177
815
1,052
PE
>10,000
> 2,000 - 10,000
1,001 - 2,000
500 -1000
<500
Total for
Wastewater
No. of
Agglomerations
67
149
140
185
541
1,082
IrishWater
Bord Gais & Innovation
Programme
• Track Record in supporting Research &
Development
• Examples include:
• ABTEST Project - Advanced Technologies for Biogas
Efficiency Sustainability and Transport
• Linear Regression Model for Residential Gas
Consumption Forecasting
IrishWater
The Smart City Market: Opportunities for the UK Programme
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Oct 2013
• Reviews 5 Vertical Markets including Smart Water
• Drivers include:
• Poor condition of infrastructure
• Rising operating costs
• Drive for efficiency
• Increasing demand and dwindling supply
• Climate change
• Increasing focus on micro pollutants
• Barrier – Water Utilities are “conservative and risk
averse”
Key Drivers for New Technologies & Innovation
• Reducing Costs (Opex & Capex)
• EU Environmental Regulation
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–
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Water Framework Directive
Priority Substances Directive and emerging pollutants
Nutrient Removal
ECJ Case C-301/10 EC v UK on Directive 91/271/EEC
• Climate Change
– Mitigation
– Adaptation
• Achieving Serviceability with an Ageing Infrastructure
• Reducing Leakage
Opportunities for New Technologies & Innovation
• Doing More for Less
• Doing the Right Thing
– Research to support evidence based approach to decision making in addressing
environmental requirements
• Asset Information Capture
• Treatment Technologies
– Changing Requirements
– Allowing for Scale
– Sludge as a Resource
• Smart Network Management
– Lead pipes
– Reducing Unaccounted for Water
• Four Pillars of Leakage Management
• Addressing Customer Side Leakage
– Sewer Networks
• Reducing Pollution from Stormwater Overflows (SWOs/CSOs)
• Sustainable Urban Drainage
• Energy Efficiency