Rural Water Programme
The Council's Rural Water Programme includes:
- Group Water Schemes
- Small Public Water and Sewerage Schemes
- Grants for Individual Well Water Installations
Group Water Schemes
A group water scheme provides a private water supply to 2 or more houses by means of a common or shared source of supply and distribution system.
The Council assists groups by working in partnership with them and by:-
- Providing advice and guidance on the formation and operation of group schemes
- Providing technical advice on source and supply issues, distribution networks, water quality and treatment, scheme design, etc.
- Enabling groups to take a water supply from public mains where this is feasible
- Providing advice and assistance on tender procurement and evaluation
- Grant aiding group schemes up to 85% of the approved cost, subject to a limit of €6,475 per house
- Supervision of construction standards
- Providing an annual subsidy towards the operation and maintenance costs incurred on the scheme by the group
Small Public Water and Sewerage Schemes
A small public water and/or sewerage scheme consists of capital works on the improvement and/or extension of public water and/or sewerage schemes where the cost of the works does not exceed €1000,000 . The Council funds 25% of the cost of such projects and it recoups the remaining 75% from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, within the confines of an annual allocation of capital funding.
Private Wells & Grants
Water Connection - Drilling a Well
If your property is incapable of being served by either a public or group scheme, you may decide to arrange for your own private well to be drilled.
Is there a grant towards the costs?
In certain circumstances, a grant may be obtained from the County Council. The maximum grant payable is €2,031.58 or 75% of the cost of the work, whichever is the lesser.
Who is elegible?
To be eligible for a grant, a person must be providing a piped water supply to an existing house for the first time.
or
carrying out improvements to a seriously deficient existing piped water supply to a house.
Who is NOT eligible for a Grant?
A person is not eligible for a grant if, in the opinion of Laois County Council:
- the house is under construction or has been constructed within the previous 10 years
- grant has been paid within the previous 10 years for the provision of a house
- a grant has been paid within the previous 10 years for the provision or improvement of a water supply to the house
- the house is not occupied by the applicant as their normal place of residence
- the house is presently connected to a public or group water scheme
- the area in which the house is located or is about to be served by a public or group water scheme
- the approved cost is less than €634.87
- the work is carried out before Laois County Council inspect and approve the proposals
What works qualify under the scheme?
- drilling or commissioning a new well.
- improvement works to an existing well.
- providing or upgrading a supply from a surface water source.
- construction or improvement of a pumphouse and/or piping for a supply of water
- provision or improvement of equipment for the treatment of a supply of water.
An inspection by Laois County Council of the proposed work will determine the costs and whether the works qualify for a grant.
