A water meter is needed in every Northern Ireland home if consumers are to be encouraged to use water efficiently, the General Consumer Council has said.

Launching its consumer proposals for the reform of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland on Friday, the Council again called on the Government to delay the introduction of direct charging and saying that water charges were “the biggest consumer issue that the Government and people in Northern Ireland have ever had to face”.

Eleanor Gill, Chief Executive at the General Consumer Council said: “The decisions we make now will have an impact on us for years to come. We have to get it right, not just get it done.

“In our view, the Government's proposals fail to demonstrate value for money for those who can afford to pay, provide protection for those who cannot afford to pay, or encourage consumers to use their water efficiently. The Consumer Council believes that any new way of paying for water should be based on the principles of fairness, affordability and sustainability.”

The Council’s report also called on the Government to make provision for those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged and not other consumers. Funding for this should come from ring-fencing a proportion of the money saved from the existing costs of the Water Service.

”We think that these proposals offer a clear way forward on an issue that has lacked open and transparent debate. We want our elected representatives, Government and other key stakeholders to engage with us to debate these proposals fully to ensure the best system for Northern Ireland,” Ms Gill concluded.

(MB)