Drinking Water Quality
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).
County Council’s role
Galway County Council, as the Supervising Authority, oversees private regulated water supplies in County Galway and ensures drinking water safety rules are followed.
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.
Uisce Eireann - Public water quality and testing
Uisce Eireann is the national water utility and is responsible for managing the delivery of water services to homes and businesses in Ireland. For further information or to report an issue with water supply or quality in public networks contact:
Web: www.water.ie
Telephone: 1800 278278 or 01 7072828
For public water supply results please visit www.water.ie
https://www.water.ie/help/water-quality
Group Water Schemes - public and private GWS
GWS are responsible for water quality within their pipe network.
For public and private group water supply drinking water results,
please click the following link: Drinking water quality test results
Select by water type: Public water schemes, Public WWTP, Private water schemes, Private GWS, Public GWS or Bathing waters.
Private wells - Sampling and Testing
HSE public laboratories in Galway:
Water testing section, Public Health Microbiology Laboratory, Division of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Galway, H91 Y952. 091 544916
Public Analyst Laboratory, (Chemical testing), Seamus Quirke rd., Galway H91 Y952.
091 581122. email publicanalystlab.uchg@hse.ie
Please contact them directly for fees, application forms and details.
Private companies, Water testing laboratories:
There are a number of private water companies that carry out Chemical and Microbiological testing on drinking water in the country. Some can call out and collect samples or send out sample bottles, that are filled and returned to the labs for testing. All labs should be affiliated with the Irish National Accreditation Board.
Link to EPA drinking water private wells:
https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/drinking-water/household-wells/
Link to Irish National Accreditation Board, Laboratory Accreditation:
https://www.inab.ie/inab-directory/laboratory-accreditation/testing-laboratories/