In an article in the Irish Independent, Mr O'Dowd said the company has come across as arrogant, uncaring and had become adept at shooting itself in the foot.
Mr O'Dowd said that one of his key concerns had been that it did not become another "cosseted quango with a bonus culture".
Sadly, he said, the opposite had happened.
"Aside from conservation tips on its website, there has been little in the way of selling the message.
"What we have been left with is an angry and intimidated population with an intense dislike of the whole process. People are confused and not sending back forms, or sending them back blank, meaning in many cases they will end up being charged double.
"Almost all of the advertising being done by the utility company is focused on demands, duties and deadlines rather than on the positive changes water metering can bring. It is almost as if there is a conspiracy to make it as bureaucratic and nonsensical as possible. This is a major communications failure."
Mr O'Dowd, a Fine Gael bbackbencher lost his junior ministry in the Cabinet reshuffle during the summer.
The Taoiseach says he doesn't share the view of one of his former Ministers that Irish Water is an unmitigated disaster
Meanwhile Irish Water has become embroiled in a new controversy today when it claimed staff will not be paid bonuses – just “performance related awards”.
One third of Irish Water staff are set to receive bonuses of 14pc or 15pc of salary.
