Well Water Grants

More than 11% of Irish households still use private wells for their home water supply. Unlike public water supplies, these private wells do not get checked by water testing authorities which questions the quality of water in your private well.

Well Water Grants Ireland

What Kind of Work Qualifies for Well Grant?

More than 11% of Irish households still use private wells for their home water supply.

The Well Grant Scheme provides financial assistance for various qualifying improvement works related to private water supplies. Qualifying work includes drilling new wells, providing essential pumping equipment, and installing water filtration or disinfection systems, though water softeners are excluded from coverage. The grant also supports rehabilitating existing wells through deepening, relining, or removing silt, as well as developing or upgrading water supplies from surface water sources. Additionally, the provision or improvement of mechanical or electrical equipment connected to water supply systems qualifies for funding.

It's important to note that unlike public water supplies, private wells aren't routinely checked by water testing authorities, which raises concerns about water quality in these private systems. The Well Grant Scheme specifically targets households without access to public water or group water schemes, serving those who rely on private water supplies that provide water for human consumption and domestic purposes to a single house.

The fundamental objective of this program is to offer support to households dependent on private individual well supplies who are facing capital expenditure for necessary improvements. Through the Rural Water Programme, these grants help ensure that rural households can maintain safe and reliable water supplies despite being outside the reach of municipal systems.

How to Apply?

A detailed water test needs to be taken before and after any work is completed to ensure the proper water treatment system is installed. A prior inspection of the work needs to be carried out as well as the issuing of a certificate of approval before any work can commence.

Securing a water grant can be complex and time-consuming. Our experts will guide you through the entire process, provide a quotation, and handle all the details for you.

The Water Treatment Centre specializes in well water treatment and has helped many homeowners improve their water quality while successfully obtaining local authority well grants. We conduct thorough water tests, assist with application forms, and ensure you understand each step of the process.

If you want to enhance your well water quality, complete our brief form and a water treatment specialist will contact you to discuss your project. We'll provide all necessary information and forms for a successful application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Well Grant?

A well grant is a grant for households in rural areas that are dependent on a private water supply (private well). The grant provides financial assistance where households incur capital expenditure to drill a new well, upgrade an existing well and/or install a treatment system to ensure the water supply is wholesome and clean, or that the quantity supplied is sufficient to meet the domestic needs of the household.

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You should check your well to see if there are any obvious signs of contamination such as recent landspreading or cattle too close to your well. Protecting the catchment area of your well is one of the best ways to protect the quality of your water. You should also check to see is there any ingress of water into the borehole. If your well is contaminated with E. coli or Coliform Bacteria you should boil the drinking water from the well until you are sure it is safe to drink and cook with. You should disinfect your well by shock chlorination and see if this resolves the contamination (after retesting). If this is not successful in restoring the quality of your water you may need to consider improving the protection of your well and/or installing an appropriate treatment system. Once-off disinfection cannot replace a treatment system if your supply is always or often contaminated.

Applicants must arrange for their water supply to be sampled and tested in Accordance with European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014. The test must be carried out by an Independent Water Quality Laboratory which is accredited to ISO 17025 for testing all parameters listed below. Water Samples must be taken on site by qualified personnel.

Firstly, we'd need to understand the current composition of water. At the Water Treatment Centre, we undertake a consultative approach to water treatment. The first step would be to the get the water tested to understand the chemistry if water. Based on the water test results, we can suggest a bespoke water treatment solution to solve your water problem.

An application for a well grant under this scheme must be made to a local authority on Form PWS 1a which can be downloaded from the respective county councils’ website. The local authority will carry out a prior inspection to - - determine eligibility and whether the proposed works qualify, and - in the case of an application relating to the improvement of an existing supply, determine whether the such supply is seriously deficient. The applicant will be required to submit three quotations for all works for the Authority to determine the most appropriate contractor. The authority will consider whether the relevant works qualify, and determine an approved cost and amount of grant, when full details of such works are provided. Once the applicant receives approval in writing from their Local Authority, the improvement works may commence. Testing, sampling, analysis and certification of the water supply is an essential part of verification of the improvement works. It is necessary to verify that the deficiency has been resolved to the satisfaction of the Local Authority. Assessment of a completed payment claim form, water sample results and a Water Quantity Certificate will be required to allow for payment of the grant to the Applicant. The Water Treatment Centre can help you successfully apply for a well water grant and assist in the whole process.

Your grant application may take anywhere from 1-2 months to process.

There are several types of possible smells from your well, all with different causes. The most common types of odour are rotten eggs (from hydrogen sulphide), mustiness, sewage/slurry, hydrocarbons (i.e. petrol, diesel or kerosene). There is a high chance that the well has been contaminated and you should get a water test done to understand the cause of the problem. In most cases, the treatment works would be qualified as part of the water treatment grant.

Hard water is not a serious health hazard. Therefore, any treatment equipment to remove excess lime from water would not qualify for a grant.

Navigating Water Well Assistance Grants

Accessing financial resources for water well improvements can be complex, but we're here to simplify the process. Our comprehensive guide provides clear, actionable information to help you explore available well water grants efficiently.

We have carefully curated a range of resources to support homeowners and communities in securing the funding they need for water well projects. Whether you're seeking assistance for well installation, repair, or improvement, our expert team is ready to guide you through every step of the grant application process.

Need personalized guidance? Our knowledgeable advisors are standing by to provide tailored support and help you navigate your grant opportunities with confidence.