No Additional Water Charges for Irish Homeowners with Private Wells

The first water bills are set to be sent out in early 2015, however homeowners whose water supply comes from a private well will not have any additional charges. The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) have received confirmation, following a meeting with the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), that households with private wells and their own septic tank will not be required to pay additional charges for the use of their water.

Those who have their own private well but use a public sewer will have to pay charges to Irish Water. If you have your own private well it is important to check that your waste water treatment system is not contaminating your well.  

Is My Septic Tank Contaminating My Well Water?

Clean drinking water is essential to maintaining good health, and we need it for the most obvious daily activities such as cooking and cleaning, and also to grow our food produce. Home owners who have private wells situated close to their septic tank may be at risk of contamination. Well water is sourced from the ground and it can become contaminated by bacteria found in the run-off from septic tanks. Septic tanks can cause contamination and can affect the quality and safety of your drinking water if not correctly maintained.  

These simple measures can be taken to ensure that your drinking water is safe:

• Have your water tested; particularly following heavy rain.
• Have your well water tested once every year for contamination.
• Have your septic tank pumped periodically by a permitted environmental company.
• Exclude bleach, food and rainwater from your wastewater system.
• Ensure that manhole covers are secure.
• Keep a record of de-sludging and servicing.

 

Still unsure about your septic tank?

We offer free septic tank regulations to our customers in the North West. Click to read more..  

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