put in a well v connect to water scheme

viztopia

I have 20 acres of land with no water on it and no stock just yet. I would like to hear peoples advice as to what tehy would do. I also intend to build a hoise on it. To get connected to the local water scheme is €1900 plus then the annual charge. Hard to know what this will be but I am thinking it will be € 300 for the house and another €300 for the fam. If I were to drill it would cost between 2- 3k for thw drilling alone then buy a pump and get in electricity so I am looking €4-5k here. Should also mention that a good few neighbours have wells so getting water shouldn't be a problem.

locky76

If you plan to build a house anyway take the cost of the electricity out of your comparisons (although it would be tax deductible if it was for the farm initially)
So the cost of boring the well will be €3k and the cost of connecting to the group scheme will be €1,900, both tax deductible....
With water charges coming in at the €300 per connection (and no doubt rising) I would imagine you will run your pump cheaper than this, I would go with the well but you would have to be disciplined about testing the water quality annually, espeicially if it's going to be supplying the house. I would also put a meter on the water and the pump as this is your only indication for leaks which will drive your electricity bill sky high...

viztopia wrote: »

I have 20 acres of land with no water on it and no stock just yet. I would like to hear peoples advice as to what tehy would do. I also intend to build a hoise on it. To get connected to the local water scheme is €1900 plus then the annual charge. Hard to know what this will be but I am thinking it will be € 300 for the house and another €300 for the fam. If I were to drill it would cost between 2- 3k for thw drilling alone then buy a pump and get in electricity so I am looking €4-5k here. Should also mention that a good few neighbours have wells so getting water shouldn't be a problem.

893bet

locky76 wrote: »

If you plan to build a house anyway take the cost of the electricity out of your comparisons (although it would be tax deductible if it was for the farm initially)
So the cost of boring the well will be €3k and the cost of connecting to the group scheme will be €1,900, both tax deductible....
With water charges coming in at the €300 per connection (and no doubt rising) I would imagine you will run your pump cheaper than this, I would go with the well but you would have to be disciplined about testing the water quality annually, espeicially if it's going to be supplying the house. I would also put a meter on the water and the pump as this is your only indication for leaks which will drive your electricity bill sky high...

Group connection. What about when the well pump goes on Saturday morning and you have twenty head cattle with no water and no hope of repair till next week.

893bet

locky76 wrote: »

If you plan to build a house anyway take the cost of the electricity out of your comparisons (although it would be tax deductible if it was for the farm initially)
So the cost of boring the well will be €3k and the cost of connecting to the group scheme will be €1,900, both tax deductible....
With water charges coming in at the €300 per connection (and no doubt rising) I would imagine you will run your pump cheaper than this, I would go with the well but you would have to be disciplined about testing the water quality annually, espeicially if it's going to be supplying the house. I would also put a meter on the water and the pump as this is your only indication for leaks which will drive your electricity bill sky high...

Group connection. What about when the well pump goes on Saturday morning and you have twenty head cattle with no water and no hope of repair till next week.

Pappacharlie

Firstly let me say I have a vested interest here. I work for the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and I am a member of a Group Water Scheme myself. The connection fee seems about average. €300 for both the house and land seems a bit high. Is this a private group water scheme? Do they have their own source? Are they buying water from the local authority (now IrishWater)?
Most private schemes are fully metered and despite the current debate it is the fairest way to pay for your water. In my experience the average home uses about 150M3 of water per year that's about 33,000 gallons. The average cost nationally of a M3 of water would be in the range €1.15.
Well drilling in my view is not always the best solution. The cost of drilling and pumping water as well as pump maintenance do add up.
I must say that in my experience people that use water wisely and do not waste it will get good value for money from a Group Water Scheme.

Tomjim

If he drills a well will he be liable for water tax

Pappacharlie

No how could he have to he will pay for his water? Do you pay an Electricity tax and a telephone tax not to mention a TV licence tax and a Sky tax???? Water is a service like any other utility.

Sam Kade

Pappacharlie wrote: »

No how could he have to he will pay for his water? Do you pay an Electricity tax and a telephone tax not to mention a TV licence tax and a Sky tax???? Water is a service like any other utility.

I do it's called VAT.

Nekarsulm

If he drills a well, he will not be liable to pay Irish Water for the water extracted.
No doubt you will see "water extraction licences" being introduced somewhere down the line, as all minerals and resources beneath your land belong to the State.

Sam Kade

Nekarsulm wrote: »

If he drills a well, he will not be liable to pay Irish Water for the water extracted.
No doubt you will see "water extraction licences" being introduced somewhere down the line, as all minerals and resources beneath your lan
d belong to the State.

The water has to go through my land to get there so we could charge them for letting it through and stop giving them ideas.

Nekarsulm

Sam, if I have thought of it, the much smarter people in our corridors of power have thought of it long ago. Anyway, its common practice already in UK for irrigation.
If oil came bubbling up in your field, who do you think would win an ownership case in Court?

Sam Kade

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Sam, if I have thought of it, the much smarter people in our corridors of power have thought of it long ago. Anyway, its common practice already in UK for irrigation.
If oil came bubbling up in your field, who do you think would win an ownership case in Court?

True but they won't be able to get at it unless you give them permission to come onto your property.

Did you ever watch gold diggers they dig down to bedrock for gold do they give it to their state?

whelan2

we have our own well and mains for back up, only use mains in emergency and we pay something like 18 euro atanding charge per quarter to council and then for water if we use any-which we havent in a couple of years

Nekarsulm

Sam, Compulsory Purchase. Get your hairy Ar53 off our valuable National Resource.

Things different in other jurisdictions. No such thing as treasure throve here, for example.

Sam Kade

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Sam, if I have thought of it, the much smarter people in our corridors of power have thought of it long ago. Anyway, its common practice already in UK for irrigation.
If oil came bubbling up in your field, who do you think would win an ownership case in Court?

Another point there is an abundance of oil and gas off our coast and they gave it away :mad:

Nekarsulm

Sam Kade wrote: »

Another point there is an abundance of oil and gas off our coast and they gave it away :mad:

Absolute disgrace that. And throw in ex-Gardai being up on corruption charges, then getting job in oil company security, etc.

What was the old poem back in School, about the Sow that eats her young?

PMU

to get back on topic, ask the neighbours how deep they had to drill for a good supply of water. 2 yrs ago I sank a well because of a poor quality local supply.it cost E7500 to go down 400ft plus pumps etc.But I now have an abundant supply of excellent water.

Markcheese

I know of people who've had to drill a couple of times to get an adequate clean supply, or had to put in more expensive liners than planned cos the ground conditions were different to what was expected... I think I'd just take the scheme

Nekarsulm

PMU wrote: »

to get back on topic, ask the neighbours how deep they had to drill for a good supply of water. 2 yrs ago I sank a well because of a poor quality local supply.it cost E7500 to go down 400ft plus pumps etc.But I now have an abundant supply of excellent water.

Great advice, and as you say, back on topic!
Make sure there isn't sulphur in the local groundwater, aslo ask the neighbours. If there is, go for the Group scheme, as you will always be changing filters etc, and still have a taste/smell from the well.
I had a well sank by Conaty from Kells, about 5 years ago. Good enough supply for 2 dwelling houses and the farm, at 230 feet. Think it was about 3800 Euro. Sourced the pump etc myself and built a little pumphouse etc. Total near 6000 Euro. Great comfort ever since.