It’s feared that thousands of people are missing out on compensation from Uisce Eireann by complaining to their public representatives rather than the company itself.
Many households across the North West were left without water in the aftermath of recent storms and there was significant disruption due to burst pipes at the beginning of the year as the counties of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal was gripped by a cold spell of weather in January.
Restrictions on running water are also imposed during warm spells of weather in the summer.
New figures from 'The Journal Investigates' found while TDs and councillors raised almost 8 thousand 500 issues with the utility last year, there were just 166 individual complaints made.
Customers can only apply for a compensation if they have complained directly to the company.
Mairead Maguire from The Journal Investigates says this fact is not well publicised and is going under the radar.
