Employers' group IBEC has published a league table of nationwide water charges for each local authority. It compares current charges with those which applied in 2000.
IBEC's director of enterprise Brendan Butler said it was difficult to understand why a business operating in Longford must pay €7.95 per 1,000 gallons of water while a similar business based in Sligo will pay €2.79 for the same amount.
Mr Butler also pointed out that Limerick County Council had increased its charges by 135% since 2000 while Cavan and Leitrim County Councils had not increased their charges over the same period.
According to IBEC, the table highlights the scale of recent increases and the lack of consistency between counties.
'These finding are alarming and failure to deliver cost effective, consistent, and transparent water charges will when taken in conjunction with other increases charges threaten the viability of some enterprises, put planned expansions into question and will act as a deterrent to Foreign Direct Investment,' said Mr Butler.
IBEC says it accepts that increased charges are justified as a consequence of Ireland's huge investment in water infrastructure to meet EU obligations and to eliminate the current inadequate infrastructure. But it says the current charges are inequitable as the 'polluter pays' principle is being selectively applied. IBEC says the domestic sector, which is responsible for over 80% of water usage, is exempt from charges.
