Frequently Asked Questions
How much free water do I get?
Occupied houses receive the first 160 m3 of water (worth €105.60) for free each year. This is equivalent to 438 litres per day or 96 gallons per day.
How does my usage compare to that of others?
Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the average household consumption in Ireland in 2021 was 375 litres per day, while the median was 280 litres per day. Our average daily usage for house-only meters in 2021 was 485 litres per day, which is high (some of it is attributable to member leaks). The median, or halfway figure, was 373 litres per day. This bar chart shows the usage in Gallagh GWS according to the 2021 invoices. The horizontal axis shows usage in bands of 80 m3 and the vertical axis is a count of members with usage in those bands, grouped by type (house, land, or both). 181 house-only members and 75 house-and-land members used less than the domestic allowance. These figures could be improved by timely identification and fixing of leaks at your homes and by conscientious use of water.
How can I pay my bill?
See the Payments page for information about charges and how and when to pay.
If land or a house is rented, who pays for the water, and who is responsible for leaks, the landlord or the tenant?
The water account is in the landlord's name and the bills are sent to the landlord so it is ultimately the landlord's responsibility to ensure that the bill gets paid. However, since the tenant is the one using the water, it is often the tenant who actually pays the bill. Who pays should be discussed and agreed between the two parties before any water is used and should be part of the rental agreement. Landlords and tenants should also discuss the monitoring of water usage and the maintenance of the pipework so that it is clear who is responsible for leaks and who pays for unexpected excess usage. We do not get involved in disputes between landlords and tenants.
How do I read my water meter? How do I check for leaks? How do I turn off my water at the mains?
Click here to view the document MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR WATER METER
Is there any fluoride added to the water?
No, we don't add fluoride.
Why do I get so much limescale in my kettle?
Our local underground water is hard water, meaning it contains dissolved calcium and magnesium ions which precipitate out onto your appliances.
Learn more about hardness and softening your water
Is it OK to drink hard water?
Hard water is good for you, as it contains mimerals. Bottled mineral water or spring water is hard water.
Why am I not getting text messages from Gallagh GWS?
If you're not receiving text alerts then we haven't got your correct phone number registered with your account. Contact the secretary to add your number.
I am building a new house. How do I connect to the water scheme?
See our New Applicants page. If you can't find what you're looking for there, contact the manager or the secretary.
What is the co-op and who are shareholders?
One of the conditions of eligibility for county council funding for a group water scheme is that it is owned and run by its members. Gallagh Agricultural Co-operative Development Society Ltd was registered as a co-op in 1973 and all the original subscribers were offered the opportunity to become shareholders with one hundred £1 shares each. Many of the original shareholders are now deceased but when a membership was transferred into another name we also transferred the shares, unless instructed otherwise. Most members who joined the water scheme later are not shareholders but always had the option to sign up for shares. The new co-op rules we adopted in 2020 limit the shareholding of any new applicant to one €1 share. In August 2020 we introduced a new membership application form that includes becoming a shareholder by default.
How do I know if I'm a shareholder?
The AGM was held in April. Invitations were posted to all shareholders. If you didn't get one then you are not on the register. We encourage every member to become a shareholder. You can also find out your shareholder status by contacting the secretary.
What does it mean to be a shareholder?
Only shareholders can attend general meetings to vote on the running and future direction of the scheme and only shareholders can be nominated to join the board of management. Shareholders can request a copy of our audited accounts. Shares can be in joint names but there is only one vote per share. Liability is limited to the value of the shares held so the financial risk is negligible. Payment of dividends is at the discretion of the board of management. Current policy is that we do not pay any dividends and all profits go into upgrading the scheme. If the co-op is ever dissolved then shareholders get their money back and there is the possibility (but no guarantee) of a bigger payment.
How can I become a shareholder?
To claim your €1 share and your voting right you simply have to sign a form, available from the secretary. Once the committee has approved your application, your name is added to the register of shareholders and €1 from your membership fee is reassigned in our accounts. You do not have to pay anything extra.
What if I don't want to become a shareholder?
There is no obligation for existing members to become shareholders and new members can opt out of the default share allocation. You can continue to be a customer of the water scheme and receive the same service and support from us but you will not have any voting rights and will not be invited to the AGMs or any SGMs or be allowed to sit on the committee.
Why is there dirt in my water?
If there is visible contamination in the water coming from the cold tap in your kitchen you should call us. It sometimes happens that a pocket of dirt lodges near a connection during flushing of the mains and then dislodges later. Further flushing by us will solve it.
What is that taste in my water?
Taste is subjective and is hard to specify as it cannot be measured but we are obliged to provide water with a taste that is "acceptable to consumers and no abnormal change." If you notice a sudden strong unpleasant taste in the water you should let us know and tell us what kind of a taste it is. If you haven't already done so, we will check with your neighbours to see if it is a network problem which needs to be resolved by us.
Bleach/chlorine taste - this comes from chlorine added to the water as a disinfectant. Levels of chlorine at your tap depend on how far you are from the treatment plant and how fast the water is travelling through the network. The amounts present are not harmful to your health. If you are particularly sensitive to the taste, you can remove it by using a filter jug with an activated carbon filter .
TCP/Dettol taste - this comes from reaction of the chlorine in the water with certain plastics and is likely a problem with degraded washers in your taps, a new kettle or a degradation of an old one, or backflow from the plastic hoses of appliances.
Metallic taste - this is due to the presence of metals like iron or manganese in the water, especially when boiled. Metals would also tend to cause discolouration on bathroom surfaces and on laundry.
Bitter taste - may be due to copper from copper pipes in your home.
Mouldy taste - this can come from algal bloom in the source. Our spring is completely covered by a shed to keep out the light and prevent algal bloom. A mouldy taste can also be caused by bacteria in your plumbing system. At certain times of year, when there is a lot of vegetative growth or a lot of decaying vegetation, the Total Organic Carbon in the water can increase. Some people can taste this.
Rotten egg smell - this is caused by a combination of sulphates in the water and sulphate-reducing bacteria. It is likely to be a problem within your own plumbing.
How often is the water tested and what tests are carried out?
We measure total and free chlorine at the ends of the lines every month. We use CLS labs to check for microbiological contaminants and free chlorine once a month at four places in the network. Glanua send us a monthly status report which includes test results for the output from the treatment plant. You can see their latest test results here. In 2025 we started a more extensive raw water testing program to accumulate data on how local conditions affect the quality of the water at source.
What are THMs and should I be worried about them?
Trihalomethanes are products formed when organic matter (e.g. decaying plants, algae) in the raw water reacts with chlorine during the treatment process. The EU statutory limit for total THMs in treated water is 100 ug/L and is a quality standard, rather than a health-based one. Long-term exposure to high levels of THMs can be harmful but short-term use of drinking water that exceeds the limit is unlikely to have an impact on human health. It is generally accepted that potential risks from THMs are much less than the risks of not disinfecting the water. Tests of our water in April 2025 gave a result of 60 ug/L for total THMs.
What personal data is held by the water scheme?
Read our GDPR statement here
How does farming affect the raw water and what can farmers do to help protect the quality of the raw water?
Answer to be added - watch this space. See also some Teagasc articles about water quality in Ireland here.