'Get outta that, cat, you're costing us!'
Water charges come into effect across Ireland today, and while another bill to pay puts a dampener on consumers’ pocket books, the new charges have ignited reaction on Twitter.
RTÉ has reported that the Commission for Energy Regulation has said customers of Irish Water are to have their metered charges capped at an assessed rate for the first nine months of use, and that under the charges a family of two adults and two children will pay an annual water bill of around €278.
Customers of Irish Water can expect to receive their first bill in January.
More immediately, however, #watercharges has been trending on microblogging site Twitter, with tweets about showering, bathroom usage, and the Irish Government.
Hey there @evianwater, any chance of sponsoring my showers for the year?? the #watercharges have begun. cheers
— Brendan Fuller (@12brendanfuller) October 1, 2014
I can see the nation’s consumption of tea dropping off a cliff now #watercharges are here
— Mathieu Norry (@MathieuOnRadio) October 1, 2014
Just showered, brushed my teeth and boiled the kettle. Does that mean I’m broke now??? #watercharges
— Derrick Lynch (@lynch_derrick) October 1, 2014
Amount of people that are gonna walk around smelly and thirsty is gonna be ridiculous. It was bad enough before the charges #watercharges 🙂
— Katelynne 🙂 (@RantAwayIre) October 1, 2014
Totally changing my water supplier to trocaire..they can supply me & my village with water for €2 a month #watercharges #competition
— elaine mcnamara (@McnamaraElaine) October 1, 2014
If you wee in the shower, you’ll save around €13 a year. #bargain #watercharges
— Bosco from the Tele (@boscosdiary) October 1, 2014
I’m saving money by washing myself in the tears I shed while watching the first 10 minutes of ‘Up’ every morning. #watercharges
— Jen Ronan (@JayRow) October 1, 2014
Me and Dave just made a timetable for toilet flushes, lets hope nobody needs to go between the hours of 10 to 4 #watercharges
— rob&dave kearney (@boringkearney) September 30, 2014
Shower time, who’s round is it? #watercharges
— Kodaline (@Kodaline) October 1, 2014
Babywipes, Febreeze & Calvin style combo bio-baths will see me through until my next gym membership #watercharges pic.twitter.com/gtrCbXLhLh
— Leonie (@LeonieHilliard) October 1, 2014
Cat drinking from tap image via Shutterstock
