Water in Tipperary is supplied in 3 ways:
- public water supply schemes
- group water schemes
- individual private wells
The water supplied to the majority of homes and schools originates from the lakes and mountains in the county. This water is then extracted and pumped to a treatment plant where it is made potable (suitable to drink). From there it is pumped to a service reservoir and then distributed to each property by an extensive system of underground watermains.
Public Water Supply
South Tipperary County Council maintains 8 Public Water Supply Schemes through a network of Water Caretakers working under the supervision of the Department`s technical staff. Their are some 2,200 km of pipe lines in the county. At present, about 90% of the County population is served with a public water supply.
Group Water Schemes
The Group Water Schemes in South Tipperary play a smaller role in the delivery of water especially in rural parts of the county. Almost 2% of population depend on private group water schemes for their water supply. There are almost 18 Private Group Water Schemes and these account for water supply to nearly 1,000 residents in rural areas.
Private Wells
Some properties including households have private wells that take water directly from underground sources known as aquifers. This water is not pre-treated and any polluting substances such as oil, sewage or fertilizers can effect the quality of this water, rendering it unsuitable for consumption. About 8% of properties use water extracted from private wells.
