WELL GRANTS
Local authorities may provide financial support to private homeowners who do not have access to a public water supply or group water scheme to bore a new well, upgrade an existing well or install a treatment system.
Queries in relation to Well Grants can be directed to the Environment Section by;
Email: wellgrants@carlowcoco.ie, or, environment@carlowcoco.ie
Phone: 059 9136231
What is the Well Grants Scheme For?
The objective of the Well Grant Scheme is to assist households dependent on private individual water supplies who are incurring capital expenditure to:
- provide a piped supply of water for domestic purposes, or
- remedy serious deficiencies in an existing supply of water for domestic purposes.
The grant is an integral part of improving the quality and reliability of private water supplies that are supplying water for domestic use by houses in rural areas. Significantly, the scheme contributes to public health across Ireland through improved drinking water quality in these supplies.
The grant structure will assist in meeting the requirements of the Drinking Water Directive in relation to rural water supplies.
Am I Eligible for a Well Grant?
You may be eligible for a Well Grant if:
- The improvement works will be carried out on a water supply to a house, where the existing water supply does not meet the quality standards in Regulations or the quantity supplied is insufficient to meet 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 Éireann or a Group Water Scheme2, and,
- The house is not located in an area that is, or is about to be, served by Uisce Éireann 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, 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.
Note:
For the purposes of this grant scheme a normal place of residence includes long-term rentals but excludes private holiday homes and properties operated on a commercial basis (e.g. short-term rentals, self-catering properties, caravans/mobile homes, caravan/mobile home sites etc.). Properties owned by local authorities, housing associations, Health Services Executive etc. are not eligible.
How much of a grant is Available?
The level of a grant is determined by the type of improvement works being undertaken and shall not exceed the following amounts:
- 85% of the approved costs for rehabilitation works, subject to a maximum of €3,000.
- 85% of the approved costs for the provision of a new well (including water pump and all associated works), subject to a maximum of €5,000 (where the housing authority agrees that this is the most appropriate solution).
- 100% of the approved costs for works that, in the opinion of the housing authority, are necessary to treat the water to meet the water quality standards specified in the Regulations, subject to a maximum grant of €1,000, with a minimum spend of €750.
The scheme does not apply to houses to which a public or group scheme water supply has already been provided or can reasonably be provided.
IMPORTANT - Works carried out before a prior inspection and provisional approval by the Local Authority do not qualify under the scheme.
How do I apply for a Well Grant?
Complete the Well Grant form below. Further information is also provided in the guide also below.
Water Quality Testing and Reporting.
Water Quality Testing is to be carried out by person(s) trained in obtaining a sample for the purposes of Drinking Water. Samples are to be taken from the kitchen sink tap. Reporting is to be carried out by a Laboratory Accredited for the purposes of analysing and reporting upon Drinking Water Quality. A full list of Accredited Laboratories is obtainable by contacting the Irish National Accreditation Board here: https://www.inab.ie/contact-us/