No additional water charges for private wells

Households with private wells will not pay additional charges for their water, it’s emerged this week.

IFA Environment and Rural Affairs Chairman Harold Kingston has welcomed a commitment from the Commission for Energy Regulaion (CER) that households with private wells will not pay additional charges for their water. This clear commitment was given to the IFA at a recent meeting with the CER.

While welcoming this commitment, Harold Kingston called on the CER and Irish Water to reduce the cost that farm families pay for water that is supplied from a public source.

Following IFA representations, the CER has also agreed to reconsider the proposal to issue farmers with two water bills – one from Irish Water for household water and a second from the local authority for water used on the farm. Mr Kingston said the current billing proposal represents wasteful inefficiency, which would add additional costs for water users.

The IFA has also highlighted to CER the need to end wasteful duplication of water charges inspections by public bodies and the need to establish a compensation package in cases where farm land is sterilised to accommodate water abstraction for public use.

Meanwhile, Irish Water has said householders across the country can expect to receive an application pack through the post between now and the end of September. The new body is engaging with all households to give them the opportunity to avail of free water allowances to which they are entitled.

Irish Water is asking householders to complete the application and return it by freepost to Irish Water by October 31st.

Alternatively, householders can call Irish Water directly to avail of allowances or can apply online at https://www.water.ie/apply/