Small Private Supplies or SPS’s:
‘Unmonitored private drinking water supplies are a potential risk to public health’, (EPA: July 25, 2024).
Q. What are private water supplies?
A. Is any operator or supplier of a water supply that is used for commercial activity or public consumption that is not owned or managed by Uisce Eireann, including the following,
- Private Group Water Schemes, where abstraction (groundwater borewell source or other), treatment and distribution of water is managed by a local community group or Co-operative.
- Small Private Supplies, where a water supply is serving a commercial or public activity and the abstraction, treatment and distribution is managed by a commercial or public entity. E.g. schools, creches, shops, sports clubs, public houses, food establishments, cottage industry/small food producers etc.
- Private domestic wells, where water is used for domestic use only and treatment is managed by the individual homeowner.
Q. Are private water supplies regulated?
A. Yes, private water supplies fall under the 2023 EU Drinking water regulations, except for private individual domestic wells or if you supply less than 10,000 litres/day or serve less than 50 people and you do not supply a commercial or public activity.
Kildare County Council is the Supervisory Authority responsible who are legally obliged to ensure that Small Private Supplies (SPS) in Kildare are registered as per requirements of the 2023 EU Drinking Water Regulations. Under its legal obligation, Kildare County Council will also:
- Develop and maintain a Small Private Supplies (SPS) Register for the County.
- Implement an annual water quality monitoring programme covering all registered supplies.
- Sample private water supplies to check water quality. Each registered supply will receive a minimum 2 No. Group A (check) samples and 1 No. Group B (Audit) sample per year.
- Notify registered supplies where water quality standards are not met, issuing Boil Water Notices or Do Not Consume Notices where applicable.
- Assist private supply owners/operators with advice and guidance to improve their water quality.
- Take enforcement action if a private water supply owner/operator is not taking steps to improve water quality in a supply that fail to meet standards.
SPS Owners/Operators:
Owners/Operators of Small Private Water Supplies (SPS) must register their supply with the relevant Local Authority.
Owners/Operators are obliged to ensure that the water they are supplying meets the requirements set out in the EU (Drinking Water) Regulations 2023. If you are an owner/operator of a private supply, you are legally obliged to have the supply tested and analysed to ensure compliance.
A Water supplier shall ensure that all water intended for human consumption supplied by them is –
(a) wholesome and clean,
(b) does not present a risk to human health, and
(c) meets the requirements of the regulations.
How to register your SPS supply:
Download our SPS registration form, please submit a completed SPS registration form to Kildare County Council, Rural Water Office, Environment Section, Aras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co. Kildare.
For Advice and further information please contact the Rural Water Office,
on T: 045-980361 or E: ruralwater@kildarecoco.ie
also
For an SPS registration form please go to the Kildare County Council Website link:
https://kildarecoco.ie/Forms/WaterServices/
Other relevant information regarding small private supplies can be found at,
The EPA website link:
Link to 2023 EPA report on Water Quality in private group schemes and small private supplies:
Link to 2023 EU Drinking Water Regulations: