Rural Water Programme

The Rural Water Programme (RWP) is a Department of Environment, Community & Local Government initiative the aim of which is to develop and upgrade of rural water supplies.

The programme is administered by Local Authorities and is comprised of a number of measures to address deficiencies in: 

• Group water schemes.

• Group sewerage schemes.

• Private supplies where no alternative group or public supply is available. 

Under the Programme, the Exchequer funds improvements to group water scheme and group sewerage scheme infrastructure so schemes can provide a water supply that meets water quality requirements. Some of the day-to-day costs of group water schemes are also subsidised. 

The Programme also helps to provide new group sewerage schemes and improve private individual water supplies where no alternative supply is available.