Billing Explained
In January 2014 Irish Water assumed responsibility for public water services. Your local Authority then began issuing bills for water services to your business on our behalf, managing all queries in relation to your business account. Over a phased basis, Irish Water began managing all business accounts directly including billing for water services.
There are two types of bills:
Metered bill
If your premises has a meter you will receive metered bills. Our Understand your bill page contains information about metered bills. Visit our Business charges page for information on metered water charges.
Unmetered bill
If your premises doesn’t have a meter you receive unmetered bills. Our Understand your bill page contains information about unmetered bills. Visit our Business charges page for information on unmetered water charges. We bill all customers based on previous usage.
Paying your bill
Payments must be made directly to Irish Water (not your Local Authority). You can pay your business water services bill in a number of ways.
- Our Paying your bill page gives details on our convenient payment options.
- If you haven't already done so you may need to update your payment arrangements to direct payments to Irish Water.
Business and domestic use premises
Some business customers may use water services at a premises for both business and domestic purposes. This is called mixed usage. Mixed usage may include farms with a farmhouse, B&Bs, or retail units with residential accommodation located above them.
- Business water use includes usage within offices, hairdressers, restaurants, industry and agriculture.
- Domestic water use is the personal use of water within a household.
Additional services
For additional services, for example sludge removal, we issue separate bills under separate Irish Water account numbers. Contact us to request additional services.
Changes to business charges
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) held public consultations on our proposed framework for future business charges which will harmonise charges nationwide. The new business charges will apply to both business customers and mixed-use customers. The first consultation period is now closed, however, the new charges are not expected to be introduced until late 2019.
Trade Effluent
A key distinguishing feature between the provision of water and wastewater services in the non-domestic sector is that wastewater strength can vary quite significantly and can have very different treatment costs, sometimes justifying an additional charge for users discharging wastewater with strengths greater than ‘normal strength’ or domestic wastewater. Trade Effluent is typically a residual waste of trade, service, research or manufacturing activities in the form of wastewater that is discharged to the sewer. Trade Effluent typically has a different composition to domestic wastewater and may contain additional pollutants that proves difficult to treat. The management of extra matter contained in Trade Effluent such as organic wastes, soluble or insoluble chemicals or compounds, including nutrients or metals, can lead to increased costs associated with the monitoring, treatment and disposal of the Trade Effluent or its by-products.
Under Section 16 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977 (as amended), an individual or business may not discharge a trade effluent to the sewer except in accordance with a licence issued under these regulations.
If you have any queries about Trade Effluent charges you can contact Irish Water at 1850 778 778.