Domestic Well Grants:
Are grants for the improvement of an existing private water supply to a house.
‘Approximately 11% of Irish people get their water from private domestic water supplies – Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage March 2021’.
Household wells are where water is abstracted from a borewell, or an old hand dug shallow well and is used for domestic use only. The provision of water and the treatment is managed by the individual homeowner.
The Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage provide Grants through Local Authorities under the Rural Water Programme for the carrying out of improvement works to a private water supply (this means a water supply providing water intended for human consumption and domestic purposes that serves only one house).
Grant funding is available under the following:
Strand 1 - Rehabilitation of existing borewell/shallow well supply. The grant payable for rehabilitation works is 85% of approved costs subject to a maximum of €3,000 towards the provision of water to a domestic property.
or
Strand 2 - Drilling a new well. the grant payable for the provision of a new well is 85% of approved costs subject to a maximum of €5,000, where the housing authority agrees that this is the most appropriate solution. (Only available where there is an existing borewell/shallow well supply in place).
and/or
Strand 3 - Upgrade existing or install new treatment system. The grant for improving water quality, the water quality treatment element (typically filtration and Ultraviolet treatment) qualifies for 100% funding up to a maximum of €1,000. This can be claimed on its own or in addition to either Strand 1 - the grant for rehabilitation works or Strand 2 -the grant for a new well
NB: The grant is not available for any improvement works that cost less than €750 in total.
Eligibility Criteria:
An applicant may be considered eligible for a grant if, in the opinion of the local authority, the following criteria are met:
The water supply has been tested, and the water supply does not meet the quality standards in the Regulations, or the quantity (yield) supplied by an existing well is insufficient to meet the domestic needs of the household, and,
- the house is occupied by the applicant as his or her normal place of residence, and,
-the house is not connected to, and cannot reasonably be connected to, Uisce Eireann or a private Group Water Scheme, and,
- the house is not located in an area that is, or is about to be, served by Uisce Eireann or a Group Water Scheme, and,
- the house has been fully constructed for more than seven years, and a grant has not been paid for the provision of, or improvement to, a water supply to the house under the scheme within the previous seven years. This includes grant aid in relation to treatment works.
How to apply:
A completed application form PWS1a along with 3 quotes for any proposed works can be submitted to Kildare County Council Rural Water Office, Environment Section, Aras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co. Kildare, prior to the commencement of any improvement works.
For Advice and further information please contact the Rural Water Office
on T: 045-980361 or E: ruralwater@kildarecoco.ie
Other relevant information regarding private household wells can be found at,
The Government Website link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1d9d8-private-wells/
The EPA website link:
https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/drinking-water/household-wells/