Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) is reminding owners and operators of group and commercial water supplies of their responsibility to make sure the drinking water they provide is safe and regularly tested.
These requirements arise from national drinking water safety laws introduced in 2023.
They do not apply to individual household wells or domestic water supplies.
The testing requirements arise from the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 99 of 2023).
Council’s role
Limerick City and County Council, as Supervising Authority, oversees private regulated water supplies in Limerick and ensures drinking water safety rules are followed. In the coming weeks, the Council will contact relevant water suppliers directly to outline their responsibilities and next steps.
Who does this apply to?
The testing requirements apply only to regulated private water supplies, including:
- Group water schemes
- Water supplies serving businesses or public facilities
A water supply is considered regulated if it:
- Serves more than 50 people or produces over 10,000 litres of water per day, or
- Serves a commercial or public activity, regardless of size
This includes a wide range of premises such as hotels, restaurants, factories, bed and breakfasts, nursing homes, schools, crèches, sports clubs and other community or voluntary organisations.
Who is not affected?
Individual household wells and domestic private supplies are not affected and are not required to carry out this testing.
Water testing requirements
All regulated private water supplies must have their water tested every year to make sure it is safe to drink.
There are two types of tests:
Group A testing
These are regular checks, carried out several times a year. They look at key indicators of water safety, including:
- Bacteria that can affect human health, such as E. coli
- Basic water quality checks like colour, clarity, taste, odour and chlorine levels
Group B testing
These tests are carried out less often, but are more detailed. They check for a wider range of potential contaminants, including:
- Additional bacteria
- Substances such as metals, pesticides and hydrocarbons
Each regulated supply must have at least two Group A tests and one Group B test every year. Larger supplies may need more frequent testing.
Under the Regulations, a supervisory authority may charge to recover the costs of monitoring water supplies intended for human consumption.
The Council can provide testing at these rates:
- Group A (Check) €120 including VAT
- Group B (Audit) €950 including VAT
Registration requirement
All regulated private water supplies must be registered with Limerick City and County Council.
Details on how to register are available on Limerick.ie.
Further information
Water suppliers who need more information are encouraged to contact the Rural Water Section at LCCC:
Phone: 061 556803
Email: ruralwater@limerick.ie
