Private Well Grants
Through Exchequer funding, the Rural Water Programme delivers improvements to private domestic water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public (Irish Water) water services.
Funding is made available for households with private wells by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government under the Programme for capital works (measure 8). Mayo County Council administer the grant within its functional area as the Housing Authority.
Funding under measure 8 is demand-led, therefore local authorities do not identify funding requirements for the measure in their bids to the Department. Funding for the measure will have regard to available exchequer funding under the programme, subject to any overall limit set for the individual schemes that are covered.
Purpose of the Grant
The purpose of this grant scheme is to assist households in rural areas that are dependent on a private water supply (private well) for their household use, by financially assisting them where they incur capital expenditure to carry out improvements to the supply to ensure that the water supply is wholesome and clean, or that the quantity supplied is insufficient to meet the domestic needs of the household as defined in the Housing (Private Water Supply Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 192 of 2020).
For grant purposes, a private water supply is defined as a system providing a supply of water to a single house by means of a source that is not common or shared.
The grant enables improvement works to be carried out to a private water supply so that it will provide water that is compliant with the quality standards as set out under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, and/or will supply the sufficient quantity of water that meets the domestic needs of the household.
Level of grant
The level of a grant is determined by the type of improvement works being undertaken and shall not exceed the following amounts:
(a)
- 85% of the approved costs for rehabilitation works, subject to a maximum of €3,000
or
- 85% of the approved costs for the provision of a new well, subject to a maximum of €5,000 (where the housing authority agrees that this is the most appropriate solution)
(b)
- 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. Examples of such treatments are filtration or Ultra-Violet treatment.
The grant is not available for improvement works that cost less than €750, in total.
Application Process
The Application Form, Payment Claim Form and Terms and Conditions relating to the grant for private wells can be viewed and downloaded by clicking:
Private Well Grant Application Form
Private Well Grant Payment Claim Form
Private Well Grant Terms and Conditions
The Private Well Grant Terms and Conditions document, contains all relevant details concerning the application process, applicant eligibility, the appeals process and works qualifying for funding under the grant scheme.
Once the applicant receives approval in writing from the housing 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 serious deficiency has been resolved to the satisfaction of the housing authority.
- Water Quality is certified through acceptable water sampling results.
- Water Quantity is certified through a Water Quantity Certificate, validated by the drilling contractor.
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.
Any further queries in relation to private well grants can be made by emailing ruralwater@mayococo.ie or by contacting the rural water office on 094-9064000.