INFRASTRUCTURE minister Chris Hazzard has confirmed the end of the installation of water meters at domestic properties in the north.
The Sinn Féin politician had asked Northern Ireland Water to cease the installation of meters in July, while legislation was brought to the Assembly and yesterday the regulations were formally approved.
More than 30,000 water meters have previously installed on homes across the north at a cost of around £200,000 per year.
"I am pleased to announce today that the legislation to cease the installation of water meters at domestic properties in the north has completed its Assembly process," Mr Hazzard said on Monday.
"Installing meters currently costs the public purse around £200,000 per year.
"This is a waste of money given these will not be used. The legislation today will end this waste of valuable resources.
"These regulations also reinforce the Executive’s commitment not to bring in water charging for households and demonstrates the Executive’s commitment to protecting people’s personal finances in a tough economic climate."
SDLP infrastructure spokesman Daniel McCrossan welcomed the move and said his party "will continue to oppose their introduction at every opportunity".
"The move caused great anxiety to those residents who found that these meters had been quietly installed on their homes and to the wider public who saw this as a clear signal that water charges were coming down the tracks," he said.
But Alliance infrastructure spokeswoman Kellie Armstrong said that stopping the installation of water meters was "short-sighted" and complained that a promised consultation was never carried out before installation was halted.
"Water meters provide a valuable tool for NI Water to identify leakage in the system. Halting the installation will save around £150,000 per year, but the cost of leakage, both financial and environmental is much higher. I have to ask much money is being flushed down the drain due to leakage, when there is a proven solution."
