[Politics]Water charges: John O'Dowd rules out NI Water mutualisation

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Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd says mutualisation would lead to household water bills

Stormont's infrastructure minister has ruled out mutualising NI Water, saying it would inevitably mean household water bills.

Mutualisation would involve converting NI Water from a government company to one owned by its customers.

MLAs have been debating a UUP motion calling for a review of NI Water which could involve mutualisation.

John O'Dowd said while the principle of a mutual company may appear to have merits, it would involve charging.

"Fundamentally a mutual company requires a guaranteed and predictable funding stream which is not subject to direct political control or competing public sector priorities," Mr O'Dowd told the Assembly on Monday.

"Mutualisation leads directly to domestic water charges, there's no other way around it," he added.

"If you want to go down the mutualisation route you end up charging hard-pressed workers and families directly for water."

https://bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-68764063