Water supply in Ireland

Information

The efficient supply of water to homes and industry is the responsibility of the 88 local authorities around Ireland. The funding for maintaining and improving the water supply infrastructure (pipes, filtration and disinfection systems) comes from the Departmentof Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Capital water schemes

Public water mains are administered and maintained by local authorities. This water is supplied to homes and businesses in urban areas. Because the water charge for domestic water supply was abolished in 1997*, charges are only levied on water supplied to commercial premises. The provision and upgrading of capital projects in water and waste water services is provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The local authority administers the actual building of approved water supply projects. Stringent water testing is carried out on all public waters by local authorities and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

*Budget 2010, which was announced on 9 December 2009, indicated that a system of water metering for homes will be introduced. Water charges will be based on the amount consumed above a free allocation.

Group water schemes

There are households in Ireland which are not connected to a public water supply. Many of these are served by what are known as group water schemes. These schemes are formed by a number of households (two or more) coming together to provide their own common water supply. The group elects trustees and these trustees will act on behalf of the group members in all dealings with the local authority. They will apply to the local authority for approval in setting up their scheme and in any further negotiations that the group may have with their local authority.

Group schemes can be found in different areas. A scheme may be set up in an area that could be served by extending the existing local authority mains. Usually, group schemes are established in areas where the local authority either does not intend to install a water supply system or has plans to install one at some stage in the future, but not immediately. Group water schemes can get water supplies from the public mains (if possible) or a private source (well or lake, etc.). National reports on the quality of drinking water in Ireland indicate that poorly treated or untreated private group water supplies are most at risk from pollution.

You still have to pay for your water if you belong to a private group water scheme, i.e., if your water comes from a private source. However, local authorities do provide subsidies for each house in a group scheme. The amount of the subsidy varies from region to region and you should check with your local authority for find out what subsidy applies to your area. Any additional costs must be met by the members of the group scheme who must decide how the costs are divided up. Local authorities have no input into the running of group schemes. They have the authority to test the water supply and make sure it is safe for drinking but they are not responsible for maintaining group scheme pipes and filtration systems.

If the members of a group water scheme want their local authority to take over the running of the scheme, they must sign a waiver to say they allow local authority personnel on their land to maintain pipes, etc. The group must also provide a map of the pipe system to the local authority. They must allow the local authority access to test the scheme's pipes for leakage. If the local authority takes over the scheme, it is then responsible for maintaining the water system. However, if a group water scheme remains fully private, technical and grant assistance are available from the local authority for any upgrading works that may need to be carried out.

The upgrading and renewal of rural water supply infrastructure, particularly group water schemes, have been given high priority by the Government. Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, over €600 million was provided for rural water supplies.

Private water supplies (groundwater)

If you are not part of a water supply scheme (capital or group), you will have to consider boring your own well and drawing out groundwater to supply your needs. One way of finding a suitable spot for a well to hire a water diviner to find out if there is groundwater beneath your land. However, even if a water diviner can tell you where to dig, he or she will not be able to tell you how deep you will have to drill or how much water you are likely to get. You can get this information from the Geological Survey of Ireland and it is usually free of charge.

You should check out the reputation of the well driller and make sure you get a written contract that specifies the terms and conditions of the drilling agreement before drilling begins. To determine how much water you will need, you should allow 230 litres (50 gallons) of water a day for each person in your household. The requirement for your livestock varies from about 140 litres (30 gallons) a day for a dairy cow to about 20 litres (4 gallons) a day for 100 chickens. You must be sure that your well will be able to provide your daily water needs without going dry. For more advice, you should contact your local authority.

When your well is drilled, you should seal it against pollution and make sure it is disinfected. After a few days, you should send a sample of disinfected water from your well to the local Health Service Executive (HSE) for testing. It will then let you know whether your well water is up to drinking standards. If you find out that your water supply has been polluted by negligence, you should contact your local authority. It can prosecute those responsible under the Local Government (Water Pollution Act), 1977.

Rural water programme

Each county has been asked by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to draw up a Strategic Rural Water Plan. This Plan will look at the current state of rural water supplies and try to identify areas that need to be improved, such as water quality. It will also emphasise the need for further investment in rural water supplies to make sure that they are capable of providing users with a safe and efficient water supply. A number of grants and subsidies are now available to group water scheme users and those with individual water supplies. The Plan will also look at these financial aids and see whether their management and impact can be improved. A number of initiatives have been taken aimed at improving the overall quality, reliability and efficiency of group water supplies.

A multi-annual programme of works to enable county councils take over existing quality deficient group water schemes has been introduced and an annual subsidy towards the operational costs of group water schemes is also available.

National Rural Water Monitoring Committee

This Committee was established to monitor and advise on the development and implementation of policy on the rural water programme and has prepared a model Strategic Rural Water Plan. It includes representatives from the group water scheme sector, local authorities, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and other rural interest groups, like the Irish Countrywomens Association and the Irish Farmers' Association.

National Federation of Group Water Schemes

The National Federation of Group Water Schemes was established to represent the interests of the many members of group water schemes in Ireland. At the moment, the Federation (with the support of the Department) is advocating the provision of high-tech water treatment facilities for group schemes. This involves the grouping of schemes under a single contract that covers the building of these state-of-the-art water treatment facilities and their subsequent operation and maintenance.

Rules

Water charges

All businesses must pay water charges to their local authority. These charges vary from region to region. Domestic water charges were abolished in 1997*, but if you are a member of a private group water scheme, you will still have to pay for your domestic water. For more information about the water charges for specific water schemes in your area, you should contact your local authority.

*Budget 2010, which was announced on 9 December 2009, indicated that a system of water metering for homes will be introduced. Water charges will be based on the amount consumed above a free allocation. 

Water quality

Local authorities are responsible for monitoring the quality of the water supply in their areas. In addition, water supplies are tested by the health boards to make sure that the water is safe to drink. New EU drinking water regulations, that make it imperative for all public mains and group water schemes and private wells to conform to the highest possible standards of safety, came into effect in March 2007.

Water conservation

The Water Services Act 2007 provides for the conservation of water where leakage occurs due to unrepaired pipes or equipment, or where poor management results in wastage or excessive consumption of water.

The regulations also apply to water restrictions in times of water shortages. A local authority can make an order to stop or restrict the use of water supplies for:

• Watering gardens, recreational parks or sports grounds
• Washing cars and trailers (including by commercial car wash facilities)
• Filling or replenishing swimming pools, ponds and lakes
• Irrigating or spraying crops.

It is an offence with penalties attached if you do not comply with a water conservation order.

Rates

Proposed new water charges

Budget 2010, which was announced on 9 December 2009, indicated that a system of water metering for homes will be introduced. Water charges will be based on the amount consumed above a free allocation.

Individual Supply Grant Scheme

Under this scheme, if your house is more than 7 years old and not connected to either a public or group scheme, you will be eligible for a grant, (subject to some conditions). The grant is worth up to €2,031.58 (or 75% of cost of the work, whichever is the lesser) and must be used to for the provision of a new water supply or the upgrading of an existing one. Only one grant per house will be allowed in any 10-year period and to qualify for the grant, the work you propose must cost more than €635. A local authority inspection will be carried out before any work starts. The kind of work that would be eligible for the grant is the drilling of a new well or the provision of essential pumping or water filtration/disinfection equipment. For more details and application forms, you should apply to your local authority.

Group Water Grant Scheme

Grants are available from your local authority if two or more householders get together to provide their homes and farms with a water system where none exists. A committee that represents the group scheme members must propose the scheme and the local authority must approve it. The local authority examines the plans for each scheme to ensure that they are built and will perform to the highest standards. Advisors from the Department of the Environment and Local Government are available at all stages of the formation of the scheme but group members must organise plans and planning permission themselves. The amount of grant payable depends on where the scheme is located. You should check with your local authority for details of your area. Generally, a grant will cover 85% of the cost, with a limit of put on each house in the scheme. The group members must cover the balance of the cost but these can be kept down if they are willing to do some of the labour. It is up to the members to arrange finance and to decide how much each member will pay. The most common method is a flat rate per house but financial circumstances can be taken into account, as can voluntary labour.

Subsidy towards the operational costs of group water schemes

Local authorities are responsible for giving subsidies to group water schemes that provide a water supply for domestic purposes. The water must be of a high quality and the local authority must be satisfied with the way the group conducts its affairs. This scheme came into operation in 1997 and its objective is to ensure the improvement of rural water supplies. After the abolition of domestic water charges in 1997, it was intended that this scheme would extend those benefits to households supplied by group water schemes. The amount of subsidy is 100% of the qualifying expenditure, meaning that all the running costs of the scheme are covered by the subsidy as long as they do not exceed the subsidy limit. This must be approved by the local authority. The current limits are:

• €70 for each house supplied from a local authority source (i.e., public mains)
• €140 for each house supplied from a private source (e.g., private well on your land, etc.)
• Where a group scheme has provided its own water treatment plant under a Design, Build, Operate (DBO) contract, a new subsidy will be paid to cover the full production cost of treated water for domestic use.

Before the subsidy is paid out, the group must provide its local authority with expenditure accounts, giving details of the costs incurred by the group.

How to apply

You can also find online water supply and grant forms and information on your local authority website. Further information about water supplies, charges and grants is available from the Water Section of your local authority.

Where To Apply