Laois County Council - Water Services

Water Services

The Water Services Section ensures the provision and maintenance of adequate water supplies, wastewater treatment and disposal facilities to meet current needs. To provide for existing infrastructure gaps and future needs, we also undertake Capital Projects throughout the County through funding made available under the Water Services Investment Programme. Under the Rural Water Programme which include Group Water Schemes a number of minor improvement works are being carried out.

Water Services provides support to the Planning Department and consults with the public on planning issues relating to Water Planning Guidelines.

We are also responsible for the upkeep and improvements of Cemeteries

Information on Water Conservation, Water Charges, Water Quailty and Wastewater Discharges is also available from this section of the website.

Water Services Forms are available to download.

The management of operations and maintenance is divided into three geographical areas, each managed by its own operations section. Queries should be addressed to the appropriate office.

For operational issues contact the appropriate Area Office, for planning and all other queries please contact head office.

Head Office
Water Services Section, Aras and Chontae, JFL Avenue, Portlaoise.Co. Laois
Telephone: 057 86 64000 Fax: 057 86 74383

More information on our area offices including a map is available under Your Council.

Water Pollution

The Environment Section looks after the quality of Surface Waters in our County, i.e., rivers, lakes and streams. Under the Water Framework Directive (WFD), a management program is in place to monitor and improve the quality of our surface waters within our river basin district. Under the management plan, key potential pollution sources have been identified as -

pollution from Urban waste water treatment plants
agricultural sources of pollution
unsewered waste water discharges.

Only discharges which have been licensed with a Discharge License are permitted to discharge to surface waters.

It is an offence under Section 3 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 and 1990 to cause or permit any polluting matter to enter waters. A person who permits polluting matter to enter waters shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to prosecution by the Local Authority, the Fisheries Board or any other person.

If you are aware of a person allowing polluting matter to enter any waters, please contact the environment section of Laois County Council.