Farmers who want to put in a new field connection for water are paying a minimum of €2,272 across the country under Irish Water charges.

The cost of a new water connection was harmonised across the country in April 2019, with one universal charge for a connection to a house or field.

Previously, the cost of a field connection was set by the county council and prices varied from €110 to €2,388 depending on the county council and pipe length.

Farmers now pay a charge of €2,272 for a 25mm pipe field connection under the category ‘non domestic small 1’. This is for a pipe up to 10m in length. Any connections in excess of 10m but less than 15m have a per-metre charge of €358.

Any connection over 15m in total length is liable for the standard connection charge (€2,272), the standard charge for each additional metre of pipe up to 15m (€358) and separate “quotable charges” for each metre required after 15m.