Employers' group IBEC has raised concerns about continued talk of scrapping Irish Water.
The collective group of entrepreneurs has welcomed outcome of the election as pro-business - saying it looks likely to maintain current policy.
However, IBEC said it is important that Irish Water continues its work and that the infrastructure receives investment.
Policy director Fergal O'Brien said that the business community believes the utility is important for the country's future.
"We need that strong, national utility, and we also need to make sure that that investment program is properly financed," he said.
"And then we have the very significant issue of fines from Europe.
"There really would be a real waste of resources that we could be putting into health and education if we experience fines from Europe because we didn't stay the course in terms of 'polluter pays' principles in terms of water charges."