A draft report of the water services committee has listed five options for dealing with excessive usage.
Fine Gael insists there should be a charge in compliance with EU laws, while Fianna Fáil says excessive use should be dealt with by the 2007 water services act which it says can be amended or strengthened if necessary.
The chairman Pádraig O’Céidigh wants a charge similar to the plastic bag levy, while other options have suggested examining legislation.
The group was due to issue a final report on the future of water charges by next Monday, but a four-week extension to its deadline is now being suggested.
Fianna Fáil TD and committee member John Lahart says Fine Gael wants to spend too much money to tackle the small numbers using water excessively.
