Water supply

Information

The efficient supply of water to homes and industry is the responsibility of the local authorities. Funding for maintaining and improving the water supply infrastructure (pipes, filtration and disinfection systems) comes from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.

A new public water utility, Irish Water, is being set up for homes connected to a public water supply. A system of water metering will be introduced and the Commission for Energy Regulation will devise a scheme of water charges –see ‘Irish Water’ below.

Public water schemes

Public water mains are administered and maintained by local authorities. This water is supplied to homes and businesses in urban areas. At present, charges are only levied on water supplied to commercial premises. The provision and upgrading of capital projects in water and wastewater services are funded by the Department of the Environment, Community 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) – see our document on water quality.

Irish Water

The new water utility, Irish Water, is to be responsible for providing water and wastewater services to homes and businesses connected to a public water supply. An interim board for Irish Water is to be appointed in 2012 pending its establishment on a statutory basis as an independent State-owned company within the Bord Gais group in 2013. A system of water metering is being introduced and the installation of meters is to start in 2012. Irish Water is to take over the operation of local authority water services on a phased basis, starting in 2015.

Group water schemes

Many households that are not connected to a public water supply are served by group water schemes. These schemes are formed by 2 or more households coming together to provide their own common water supply. The group elects trustees to act on behalf of its members in all dealings with the local authority.

Usually, group schemes are established in areas where the local authority does not intend to install a water supply system in the near future, or at all. Group water schemes can get water supplies from the public mains, if possible, or a private source such as a well or lake. National reports on the quality of drinking water 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, that is, if your water comes from a private source. However, local authorities do provide subsidies for each house in a group scheme – see ‘Rates’ below. Local authorities have the remit to test the water supply and ensure it is safe to drink but they are not responsible for maintaining group scheme pipes and filtration systems.

If the members of a group water scheme want the local authority to take over the running of the scheme, they must sign a waiver saying that 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 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 be needed.

Private water supplies (groundwater)

If you are not part of a water supply scheme (public or group), you will have to consider boring your own well and drawing out groundwater to supply your needs. People have used water diviners to find out if there is groundwater beneath their 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.

To determine how much water you will need, you should allow 230 litres of water a day for each person in your household. The requirement for livestock varies from about 140 litres a day for a dairy cow to about 20 litres a day for 100 chickens. For more advice, you can contact your local authority.

When the 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 the disinfected water to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to test whether it is up to drinking standards. If 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.

National Federation of Group Water Schemes

The National Federation of Group Water Schemes is a co-operative society, established to represent the interests of members of group water schemes. It also provides advisory, training, developmental and other services to scheme members.