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Advice NI Responds to Draft Water and Sewerage Services Order

Advice NI welcomes the opportunity to respond to the consultation on the proposal for a Draft Water and Sewerage Service (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 as launched on 1st June 2006 by David Cairns, MP Minister responsible for Water Reform.

Advice NI has been actively involved in responding to the issue of water reform which we see as a major consumer issue and many of the concerns raised in previous submissions remain unchanged.

As stated in previous responses ‘we find some difficulty with the suggestion that charges should be imposed on the general public in particular those from disadvantaged communities for what the consultation document described as ‘historic underinvestment’.

Advice NI understands the existing infrastructure for water and sewerage charges in Northern Ireland needs to be addressed. However, we also feel that water is a human right and people in Northern Ireland have the right to a clean and safe supply of water and a safe and effective sewerage system. Also, that any charges introduced should be based on an ability to pay.

Whilst Advice NI welcomes the introduction of the affordability tariff, the introduction of metering, the engagement between the DRD and the Independent Advice Sector and the Consumer Council being elected as the Independent Consumer Representative Body we still have some concerns.

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