The drama surrounding Irish Water and the water charges looks set to continue into the New Year as Irish Water has confirmed that the meters, which are being installed at houses around the country, have a limited lifespan. It has been reported that the meters may only last for 15 years when they will then have to be dug up and replaced once more. The meters have cost €500 million to install and it is believed that these latest revelations will serve to anger campaigners against the charges even further. According to reports, the meters will only be used from 2019 when metered charges kick in, thus they could potentially have just another 10 years left to be used (on the basis that they had been installed in 2014). “The manufacturer’s design life of a domestic water meter is in the order of 15 years,” a statement from Irish Water read. “This depends on its usage being within normal domestic use operational limits and factors such as the quality of water passing through the meters.” “Given that the meters will almost certainly have to be replaced in the following decade, it seems certain that dramatic hikes in water charges are coming down the track,” said Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath to the Irish Examiner. “The Government knows this and are having to put a sticking plaster over the issue in the hope it will get them beyond the general election.”