How do I get my water tested in Ireland?

Order a laboratory test kit online and it is posted to any address in Ireland. Take the sample following the instructions in the kit, send it back to the laboratory, and the report appears in your online account with an email when it is ready.

Who is responsible for testing well water in Ireland?

The well owner. Public supplies are monitored by Uisce Éireann, but nobody monitors a private well — testing it, at least once a year, is the owner's responsibility.

How much does a water test cost in Ireland?

Kits start from €50.00. Each kit page shows its price and the exact parameters tested, and a custom kit can be built with only the parameters you need.

Is there a grant for private wells?

Yes. Local authorities grant 85% of approved costs up to €3,000 for fixing a private supply, up to €5,000 for a new well, and 100% up to €1,000 for water quality treatment. A laboratory water quality report supports the application.

Water Testing in Ireland

Accredited laboratory water testing for homes, farms and businesses — anywhere in Ireland, without travelling to a lab. The kit comes by post, the sample goes back by post, and the report is released online, usually within days of the sample reaching the laboratory in Bandon, Co. Cork.

Who needs to test their water?

Private well owners. Public supplies are monitored by Uisce Éireann, but nobody monitors a private well — testing it is the owner's responsibility, and once a year is the standard advice. Bacteria can appear in a well that tasted fine for decades.
Anyone worried about their tap water — taste, odour, staining, lead in older houses, or hardness.
Farms and food businesses — water compliance checks, including the ones Bord Bia audits look for.
Anyone applying for a well grant — a laboratory water quality report supports the application.

How it works

Choose a kit online — or build a custom kit with exactly the parameters you want.
The kit arrives by post with sample bottles and simple instructions.
Send the sample back as instructed. The laboratory tests it and the report appears in your account, with an email when it is ready.

Grants for private wells

If your well water fails a test, grant support is available through your local authority:

Fixing or upgrading a private water supply — 85% of approved costs, up to €3,000
Drilling a new well where that is the better option — 85% of approved costs, up to €5,000
Water quality treatment (filtration and disinfection) — 100% of approved costs, up to €1,000

A laboratory water quality report supports the application. Figures per Citizens Information (checked September 2026) — confirm the current rules with your county council before applying.