Laois Co Co Text Only - Rural Water Programme

Laois Co Co - Rural Water Programme

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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.

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.

Well Grant Application Form.