National Federation of Group Water Schemes

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National Federation of Group Water Schemes

• 3rd Annual Conference
• 16th September 2004
• Oranmore, Co. Galway

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Overview of Rural Water Programme

• Sean Clerkin
• National Co-ordinator
• National Federation of Group Water Schemes

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Background

• RWP negotiated in 1997
• Launched in Feb. 1998 (circular L 4/98)
• Partnership seen as key to success
• NRWMC set up all partners represented
• Independent Chairperson Dr. Tom Collins DKIT
• Similar arrangements at County Level
• Drinking Water Quality identified by NRWMC as
  THE MAJOR ISSUE

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Drinking Water Quality

• Successive EPA Reports
• 1993 1996 Over 40 GWS failure
• Separate reports for each year since then with
  similar failure rates
• Media Interest spotlight on GWS sector
• Public Perception of GWS is poor

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Drinking Water Quality

• Roscommon Special Monitoring Programme
• Upwards of 70 Quality Deficient
• Led to Pilot Projects at Polecat Springs etc
• ECJ Case
• Ireland found Guilty in 2002
• Judgement formally delivered in November 2002
• Huge Fines Pending
• Timeframe for remedial action running out

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Strategic Rural Water Action Plans

• NRWMC developed Model Plan
• Final Version (stage 2) released in May 2002
• Most Local Authorities have now developed County
  Strategic Plans
• Solutions identified include
• Treatment Facilities by way of DBO
• Connection to Public Mains
• Take-over by L.A.
• All Plans based on sound economic engineering
  Principles

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Design Build Operate (DBO)

• Bundling now the preferred option
• Economies of scale
• Shared Costs
• L.A. acts as lead authority
• L.A. best placed to handle Procurement Rules
• Reduces administration burden on GWS
• O M costs tied down for 20 years

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Operation and Maintenance (O M)

• Fixed element (60 approx) shared by all houses
  in the bundle
• Volumetric rates are scheme specific
• Depends on Quality of raw water
• Depends on Pumping Distance etc
• No cross subsidisation between schemes

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Operation and Maintenance (O M)

• Validation Office set up by NFGWS
• Based in Monaghan
• Officer appointed Jean Gibson
• All invoices from operator will be sent to V.O.
• V.O. will have access to treatment plant data
• V.O. will certify for payment
• V.O. will make necessary adjustments including
  penalties
• V.O. will arrange direct debit transfers

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Group
Separate O M Bank Account
NFGWS Validation Office (PMS Verification)
Quarterly Sub Advance
Remote Monitoring and Quarterly Invoice
Quarterly Standing Order
DOELG L.A.
DBO Plant / Operator
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Operation and Maintenance (O M)

• Performance Management System (PMS)
• Underpins service phase
• Liaison Monitoring Committee (LMC) for each
  Bundle
• Each GWS to be represented on LMC

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Operation and Maintenance (O M)

• Financial Planning for GWS
• Simple Financial Planning Tool developed by NFGWS
  to assist GWS Boards plan for O M payments
• Designed to assist the Board decide on a charging
  mechanism which will
• Provide sufficient revenue to cover O M costs
  and all other management and operational costs
• Take account of future development needs
• Ensure the viability of the business
• Take UFW into account
• Be acceptable to consumers of the scheme
• Suitable for use with all schemes regardless of
  size
• Now available to GWSs through Development Staff
  as part of Management Development Training
  Programme.

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Update on DBO Projects

• Monaghan
• Cavan East, West South West
• Sligo 1 2
• Mayo 1 2
• Roscommon
• Leitrim
• Galway
• Limerick
• Clare
• South East (Leinster)

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Truagh GWS - Monaghan
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Truagh GWS - Monaghan
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Doohamlet GWS - Monaghan
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Tydavnet GWS - Monaghan
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Tydavnet GWS - Monaghan
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Annagh GWS - Cavan
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Annagh GWS - Cavan
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Annagh GWS - Cavan
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Contract Opening East Cavan
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Mountainlodge GWS E. Cavan
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Mountainlodge GWS E. Cavan
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Drumkeery GWS E. Cavan
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Drumkeery GWS E. Cavan
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Drumkeery GWS - Cavan
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Drumkeery GWS - Cavan
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Drumkeery GWS - Cavan
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Billis Lavey GWS E. Cavan
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Bunnoe GWS E. Cavan
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Dernakesh GWS E. Cavan
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Corlough GWS W Cavan
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Corlough GWS W Cavan
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Kildallon GWS W Cavan
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Bawnboy PWS W Cavan
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Bawnboy PWS W Cavan (Rising Mains)
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Well Drilling W Cavan
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Legislation

• Existing Drinking Water Regulations S.I. 439 of
  2000
• Applicable from 01 Jan 2004
• New Water Services Bill
• Main Element is Licensing of GWS
• GWS sector must prepare for change

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Training

• Seen as essential to assist GWS
• Deliver quality service
• Understand the relevant legislation
• Comply with the legislation
• Cope with existing and new responsibilities
• Cope with changing environment
• Meet licensing requirements

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Operational Training

• Now provided by WSNTG
• 5 Regional Training Centres Cork, Tipperary,
  Mayo, Donegal, Dublin
• Many courses very relevant to GWS sector
• Many courses can be delivered on an outreach
  basis
• Presentation by Martin Dooley, Manager of Roscrea
  Training Centre later

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Essential Operational Training for GWS personnel

• Distribution Network Management
• Distribution System Operation and Maintenance
• Leakage Control
• Leakage Detection Location
• Service Pipe Installation
• Water Quality for GWS
• FÁS Safe Pass Programme
• Manual Handling
• Pump Maintenance Overhaul
• Pumps Operation and Maintenance
• Customer Contact Skills Programme
• Chlorine Handling (for non-DBO schemes)
• Water Conservation

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Management Development Training Programme

• Developed with the assistance of FÁS for the GWS
  sector
• Being delivered by NFGWS staff
• Based on a business management approach
• Co-op model seen as most suitable organisational
  structure for GWS
• Community ownership and control
• Each member is a shareholder
• Members adopt and undertake to comply with rules
• Model Rules available
• Assistance in Co-op setup available

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Management Training Update
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Management Training in progress Castlewarren
GWS Co. Kilkenny
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Source Protection

• Obviously a vital issue
• E.U. Commission also seen as a Driver
• Now a condition for Capital Grant Aid from DEHLG
• Will impact on all privately sourced schemes
• NRWMC initiated National Pilot Project

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National Source Protection Pilot Project

• Churchill / Oram GWS, Co. Monaghan
• Formerly launched by Minister Gallagher in
  November 2003
• Will involve the whole community including
• Local Schools
• Householders
• Farming organisations
• Commercial interests
• Monitoring of surface water quality now under way
• Report from consultants of May 2004 refers
• Recommendations for further monitoring

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National Source Protection Pilot Project
Official Opening
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Source Protection - Project
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Source Protection - Project
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Source Protection - Project
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Source Protection - Project
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Unaccounted For Water (UFW)

• Water Conservation / UFW emerging as a major
  issue
• Some GWS have UFW in excess of 75
• Major concern for these in DBO Bundle
• DEHLG has placed an upper limit of 25 UFW for
  DBO plant design
• Should reduce 15 Civil works local
  contribution
• Should reduce O M costs - affordability

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Tydavnet GWS Society Ltd.
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Unaccounted For Water (UFW)

• All GWS should carry out leak detection programme
  as soon as possible
• Bulk District metering
• Identify the location of all connections
• Replace Faulty Stop Valves etc
• Replace all Stop Cocks etc
• Install universal metering
• Investment now in Leak Detection will yield
  future savings to all.
• Rainwater harvesting and utilisation
• National Pilot Project in progress

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Metering Leak Detection

• Clifferna
• Many consumer
• leaks detected
• during universal
• Metering project.

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Calculating the benefits of Metering

• Annagh GWS 40 reduction in usage following
  universal metering.

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Rainwater Harvesting

• Pilot project (NRWMC) under way
• Dublin Institute of Technology acting as lead
  authority
• Dr. Sean O Hogáin
• Liam Mc Carton
• Co. Meath Farm (identified by Teagasc) being used
  for the agric. Element of the project
• Carlow Co. Co. facilitating the Domestic element.

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Rainwater Harvesting Need Not be Complicated or
Expensive
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Rationalisation

• Group Scheme Management Functions
• Repairs and Maintenance
• Reading Meters and Network Inspection
• Issuing of Bills and Information
• Collection of fees / subscriptions
• Customer Service
• Monitoring and Dealing with Complaints
• Issuing letters Planning Permission etc
• Connections and Disconnections
• Maintenance of Books and Records
• Preparing and submission of Subsidy Claim
• Water Treatment (Monitoring of Same)
• Quality Testing / Quality Assurance
• Audit and Accounts
• Attending Meetings

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Rationalisation

• How Can Groups survive?
• Rely on voluntary input of committee members
• Part Time or Full Time Management, Administration
  Maintenance with committee as Supervisor
• Use of Bureau Services Consultants Solicitors
  Auditors Voluntarism Contracting out (e.g.
  via DBO)
• Sharing with other Group Schemes
• Combination of above

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Rationalisation

• Amalgamations
• The key to survival for some schemes
• Spreading costs and sharing resources
• Source
• Expertise
• Management, Admin. Maintenance
• Many amalgamations have taken place
• Many more planned and in progress NFGWS staff
  to assist

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Rationalisation

• West Cavan Alliance of Group Water Schemes
• A Co-operative entity owned and controlled by the
  participating schemes
• Set up to carry out some or all of the management
  functions of the participating schemes
• Based on the concept of pooling and sharing
  resources and expertise in an organised fashion

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West Cavan Alliance of Group Water Schemes
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Conclusion

• Rural Water Programme is advancing Steadily
• Quality Treated Water Will Cost
• This Cost can be MANAGED
• Realistic pricing structures
• Demand Management Measures
• Leak Detection and Control universal metering
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Training and Development
• Rationalisation
• Source Protection
• Consumer Education

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Overview of Rural Water Programme

• Sean Clerkin
• National Co-ordinator
• National Federation of Group Water Schemes
• Many Thanks for your attention!