1. Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009 Water Services Training Group 13 th Annual Conference 10 th September 2009

2. Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009 Application of Circular L6/07 Gerry O’Donoghue Senior Adviser DEHLG

3. Application of Circular L6/07 Background Contents Updates Water Conservation/Needs Assessment Message Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

4. Original Circular: L7/96 Set Out Policy Established funding principles (generally 50%) Defined eligible costs Issued a Guidance manual Required “Preliminary Water Audits” Invited proposals Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

5. Other Circulars L8/98: National Water Conservation Study L5/01: Roll-Out of the National Water Study L2/02: Scheme Proposals for inclusion in the Water Conservation Sub-Programme of the Water Services Investment Programme L9/03: National Water Conservation Programme 2003 L14/03: Water Conservation Budget Proposals L6/05: National Water Conservation Programme – Increased Funding Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

6. Other Circulars (cont…) L11/08: National Water Conservation Programme Follow up to Circular L6/05 (deadlines amended per L6/07). Local Authorities reminded Capital Allocations for Stage 1 and 2 Water Conservation Works to be fully committed by end of 2008 Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

7. Circular L6/2007 Extends deadlines of L6/05: submission of Outline Work Programmes / Expenditure Profiles to 31 October 2007. commit funding for Stages 1 and 2 by end 2008. commit funding for Stage 3 by end 2010. Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

8. L6/2007 Stage 1: Implementation of Water Management Systems Stage 2: Active Leakage Control Stage 3: Rehabilitation Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

9. Completion of Stages 1 and 2 Departmental approval to the Project Brief and Project Budget allows Local Authority to advance projects to completion without further recourse to the Department, except in very exceptional circumstances, e.g. where a contract element exceeds €5m. Amended by L2/09 and L5/09 Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

10. Mains Rehabilitation Projects Rehabilitation Strategy Rehabiliation Works Schemes – Planning Contract Documents Stage Tender Stage Final Report Stage Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

11. Rehabilitation Strategy Status of Water Conservation Programme (standard form) Order of priority of DMA’s (standard form) Single map identifying limit of schemes Department approval is not required to proceed (may issue comments) Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

12. Rehabilitation Works Schemes Assessment of mains/works (standard form and methodology) Data sheets for works (standard forms) Budget Application Report Department approval required. Separate work packages can be submitted. Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

13. Principles Assessment on a county wide basis Use of standard methodology and forms Facilitates efficient assessment and approval Demonstrates compliance with process Minimise Department’s role consistent with its responsibility for the administration of public funding. Establish information – target needs – prioritise works. Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

14. Private Side Leakage L6/07: Part 5 – Private Side Leakage Powers under WSA 2007 Backyard Services Alternative communication pipes and connections to front eligible DEHLG funding only for works on public side Leakage in New Developments Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

15. Customer Leakage and Wastage Powers under Water Services Act 2007 Circular WSP 14/07: WSA 2007 Circular WSP 4/09: Section 56 Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

16. Lead Mains / Services Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

17. Lead pipes –Herculaneum – 79 AD Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

18. L2/09: Revision of approval Procedures Contracts >€5m cannot be awarded or signed pending Department’s sanction L5/09: Revision and Consolidation of Approval Procedures Amends procedures in L6/2007. No contracts to be awarded without confirmation from Department that funding is in place for the scheduled commencement date. Circulars amending L6/07 Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

19. WSIP 2010 -2012 Circular L6/09: Needs Assessment 2009 Section 8: Integration of water conservation contracts into the WSIP. Category 1 Priority: Water conservation proposals which meet environmental and economic goals Issues to be considered include steps necessary to meet 2013 parametric value for lead (approach per EPA Lead Guidance Circular No. 2) Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

20. Circular L6/09: Needs Assessment 2009 Strategic Overview Statement – integration of water conservation and major schemes investment from a strategic perspective. Proposals for Water Conservation Works to be accompanied by a completed report (Appendix 2) WSIP 2010 - 2012 Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

21. Where are we? Expectation was that all Local Authorities to have established water management and active leakage control systems by end 2008. This was set as a deadline for commitment of capital funding Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

22. Where are we? Expectation was also that mains rehabilitation works will have already commenced by end 2010. This is a stated deadline for commitment of capital funding for rehabilitation/replacement. Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

23. Message # 1 Water Conservation Programme in operation since 1996. Progress by Local Authorities has been variable. A few have made little progress even with Stage 1. Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

24. Message # 2 Circular L6/02 sets procedural requirements only. There is an underlying need for competent technical judgements to underpin the projects. In particular Stage 3 works are costly and it is essential that works not only be justifiable but be optimal. Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

25. Message # 3 Active Leakage Control is never-ending. Failure to maintain and resource an effective ALC operation undermines the benefits of all water conservation works. Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

26. Message #3 (cont…) Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009 Active Leakage Control

27. Message # 4 Training Meeting the Challenges of the Changed Economic Environment Annual Conference September 2009

28. Water Services Training Group 13 th Annual Conference 10 th September 2009