?Dairy farmers face significantly higher water bills next year when Irish Water introduces its new metered water charging system.

The charges will come into force on 1 May 2021. Up until now each county council set water charges, but the new system will see farmers across the country pay the same amount for water use.

It is estimated that a farmer milking 80 cows, producing 5,000l/cow/year, will use 2,560m³ of water each year. At the new water charge of €1.30/m³, that will see the average dairy farmer pay €3,328/year for water.

Farmers in Cork face the biggest price hike, with an increase of €921 to their water usage bill on average, followed by farmers in Kilkenny and Laois with an increase of €870.

However, Irish Water has said that any farmer or business facing a hike of more than €750 will have a cap of 10% placed on their bill for the next three years. So an 80-cow farmer in Cork paying €2,406 at the moment will pay €2,646in 2021, instead of €3,328 if the full price hike was applied. Farmers in Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Mayo and Westmeath face price hikes of €750 or more and will fall into this bracket.

Irish Water has said that connections that see an increase of €250 or more will be gradually transitioned to the new tariffs over three years.Dairy farmers in three counties will save money under the new rates – Donegal, Meath and Wicklow, with savings of €512, €307 and €281 per year, respectively.

A public consultation on the transition to the new water charges will be carried out before the three-year period ends.

The annual standing charge is also set to change and be equalised for all farmers and businesses across the country.

Previously, each county council set its own standing charge, but these new standard charges will see the average 80-cow dairy farmer paying €113.31 per year. For farmers using less than 1,000m³ per year, they will pay €43.76.

With this charge, dairy farmers in Monaghan are set to pay just over €63 more for the standing charge, while Limerick dairy farmers will save over €86 per year.

New water charges explained

Currently there are over 500 different pricing levels across the country for water connections (standing charges) and usage (volumetric) charges.

A new pricing structure from Irish Water will see water charges for usage and connections equalised across all counties.Water connection fees were harmonised in 2019, but water charges were not.

Farmers using less than 1,000m3 of water per year (band one) will have a standing charge of €43.76 per year and a usage charge of €1.87/m3.

Those using between 1,000m3 and 19,999m3 (band two) will be charged €113.31, with a usage charge of €1.30/m3.