Rural Water Programme

The Rural Water Programme relates to individual private water supply grants and small public water and sewerage schemes. It also deals with group water schemes (and operational cost subsidies) and group sewerage schemes.

Subsidies Towards Operational Costs of Group Water Schemes

Longford County Council operate a subsidy towards the Operational Costs of Group Water Schemes providing Water for Domestic Use to eligible groups. The 2023 Scheme is now open.

An integral part of maintaining and improving the quality and reliability of rural water supplies is the annual subsidy, payable by local authorities, towards the operational and management costs of group water schemes supplying water for domestic use.

The subsidy aims to ensure the principles of equity of treatment and equivalent financial support equally between households on public water supplies (Irish Water) and those in group water schemes.

Under this subsidy:

A group water scheme is defined as: “A scheme providing a private supply of water to two or more houses by means of a common or shared source of supply and distribution system”
Houses with individual connections to a common source of supply using separate abstraction and distribution systems do not constitute a group water scheme.
A property supplied with water by a group water scheme is eligible to be included as a domestic connection only if it is used as a normal place of residence.
Normal places of residence include long-term rentals. It does not include properties otherwise solely operated on a commercial basis (for example, holiday homes, self-catering properties, caravan sites), or domestic connections where the property is unoccupied on a long-term basis.

Applying for this Subsidy

Please read the terms and conditions carefully before applying for a grant.

Applications for payment of the Annual Subsidy in respect of the year 1 January to 31 December 2023, should be submitted on Subsidy towards the Operational Costs of Group Water Schemes Application Form by 30 June 2024. Address your application to Martha Kelly, Rural Water Liasion Officer, Longford County Council, Great Water Street, Longford.

Private Water Supply Grants

Private water supply grants assist households in rural areas which are dependent on a private water supply (for example, an individual well). These grants financially assist with improvements to ensure the water supply is clean and meets the domestic needs of the household. Further information on these grants is available from the Terms and conditions for grants for the improvement of a private water supply to a house.

It is recommended that these terms and conditions are read before applying for any grant with the following Private Water Supply Grants Application Form.

Group Water Schemes

For further information and forms related to group water schemes contact us (details below).

Group Sewerage Schemes

For further information and forms related to group sewerage schemes contact us (details below).

Domestic Lead Pipes Remediation Grants

Domestic Lead Pipes Remediation Grants assist owners of premises connected to a domestic water supply with the cost of replacing lead piping or related fittings in the internal distribution system of the premises, as defined by the Water Services Act 2007. Find out more about these Domestic Lead Pipes Remediation Grants.

Contact Details

Rural Water Liaison Officer
Longford County Council
Great Water Street
Longford
T: 043 334 33 64
E: ruralwater@longfordcoco.ie

Alternatively, you can also contact:
National Federation of Group Water Schemes
12 Henry Street
Tullamore
Offaly
T: 050 628 068