This Act provides for the transfer of water services functions which are set out in the Water Services Act 2007 from water services authorities (the county and city councils) to Irish Water, which was established under the Water Services Act 2013. This does not include the functions relating to domestic waste-water treatment systems set out in Part 4A of the 2007 Act and Rural Water Services set out in Part 6 of that Act. The Act sets out the arrangements for the transfer of property of the water services authorities, relevant to and required for the delivery of water services, to Irish Water. It also provides for the transfer of water services liabilities to Irish Water.
The Act provides for the making of agreements between Irish Water and each local authority for the delivery of water services which will cover a certain period. The Act provides Irish Water with the power to charge customers who receive water services, and Irish Water will be required to prepare a water charges plan in this regard. It also provides that Irish Water is prohibited from cutting off the supply of water to a household for non-payment of water charges. The Commission for Energy Regulation will be responsible for the approval of water charges plans and codes of practice to be prepared by Irish Water relating to standards of customer service, including the resolution of any disputes between Irish Water and its customers. The Act also makes miscellaneous amendments to the Water Services Act 2007 and the Water Services Act 2013 and certain other enactments to reflect the transfer of water services functions to Irish Water.