The average household will pay �115 from April 2006

The average household will pay �115 from April 2006, that will rise to �340 in 2008.

On Monday, Minister of State John Spellar announced the likely level of charges for the province.

He also outlined arrangements for phasing in the charges and for protecting low-income households.

"We estimate the average household charge is likely to be in the region of �315-415 per year in 2008-09," Mr Spellar said.

Mr Spellar said charges would vary according to property value, but would be capped at �750, with the lowest household charge about �150.

NIO minister John Spellar announced the likely level of charges

Household water and sewerage charges will consist of a standing charge of around �55 each for water and for sewerage, plus an element based on property value.

Charges will be phased in with customers paying one-third of the annual charge in the first year, and two-thirds of the annual charge in the second year following their introduction.

Mr Spellar said: "Bills to householders will vary depending on the value of their property.

"For example, a property with a value of �60,000 will have an annual water and sewerage charge of around �235, or 65 pence per day.

"A property valued at �250,000 will have an annual charge of around �615, or �1.70 per day."

Government subsidy

Charges will apply to all domestic properties, whether owner-occupied or rented, with the costs for water supply and sewerage services indicated separately in bills.

However, the General Consumer Council said the move was "unfair to the vulnerable" as well as those who could afford to pay.

Chief Executive Eleanor Gill said: "A 25% discount will not help people on low incomes struggling to make ends meet."

"Government's own statistics show that one in every four (24%) homes here earns less than �200 a week.

"Under this scheme, these households would be at risk of falling into water poverty.

"This discount is considerably less than what's on offer from other public services like transport, where government rightly subsidises the vulnerable."

Trade unions representing 1,800 water workers reacted angrily to the announcement.

Bumper Graham, secretary of the Water Group of Trade Unions, said: "On top of Minister Pearson's announcement on rates last week, this represents another Labour double whammy for the people of Northern Ireland.