Councils were warned about water meter boxes in 2009

COUNCILS were advised five years ago against installing the cheaper watermeter boxes now being used by Irish Water, it emerged yesterday.

Fianna Fáil has called Irish Water’s decision to install grade-C boxes over grade-B ones as ‘baffling, crazy and ridiculous’ but the firm insists these are safe and cost-effective.

Thousands of the boxes may have to be replaced within years as experts say they are not strong enough for cars to drive over, according to the Irish Mail On Sunday.

As early as 2009, the Department of the Environment warned of safety concerns over the plastic meter-box lids the company is using.

It wrote to all local authorities warning of potential damage to the lids from occasional vehicle traffic and that this presented a risk of personal injury, the newspaper said.

A letter referring to grade-C boxes said: ‘Incorrect use in areas accessible to vehicular traffic is considered a safety risk, which may result in personal injury or damage to vehicles.’

However, the departmental directive said all meters installed on pavements, regardless of potential traffic, should be grade B.

Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil’s environment spokesman, demanded the firm halt installations until the matter is examined. He said: ‘It should be investigated. I’ve spoken to someone in Irish Water and it seems they are well aware that about 20 per cent of all boxes fitted don’t meet the [Environment] Department’s guidelines.’

Irish Water has used grade-B covers in small numbers. It said its grade-C meter boxes were fit for purpose, adding: ‘We have no reports to date of broken lids among the 200,000 meters installed since July 2013.’

A source at one of Irish Water’s contractors said he had already experienced problems with broken lids.

Talis UK, which won the tender to make the meter boxes, did not respond to queries from the IMOS.