Exemptions from the Water Supply Act 

Exemption from the obligation to join is granted if all the conditions listed below are met:

1. Connecting to the network would be unreasonable for the owner or occupier of the property, taking into account the costs incurred for building the property's water supply equipment, the costs incurred for connection, the low need for the services of the water supply facility or another similar special reason; ja
2. The exemption does not, alone or in combination with other exemptions, significantly endanger the economic and proper management of water supply in the water supply plant's operating area. ja
3. The property exempted from connection to the water mains has sufficient domestic water available that meets the quality requirements and objectives of the Health Protection Act. ja
4. The drainage and treatment of wastewater from a property exempt from connection to a wastewater sewer has been arranged in accordance with the requirements laid down in the Environmental Protection Act.

All conditions for the exemption must be verifiably fulfilled in order for the exemption to be granted. A property located in the confirmed operating area of ​​a water supply company is in principle obliged to connect to the water and sewerage network. As a rule, an exemption is not granted to a building equipped with normal water fittings.

Outside of an urban area, the obligation to connect in the area of ​​operation of a water supply company will be the same as in an urban area as of the beginning of 2026, following the amendment to the Water Supply Act. However, an exemption may be granted if the connection is assessed to be manifestly unreasonable for the owner or occupier of the property. When assessing the manifest unreasonableness of the connection, the following may be considered: outside the built-up area takes into account the owner or occupier of the property:

1) advanced age and other similar special factors related to life circumstances;
2) long-term unemployment or illness or other comparable social barrier to performance.

The property owner applies for an exemption using a separate form.

When applying for an exemption from connecting to the wastewater sewer, the applicant must provide information about the current wastewater system. The information can be given directly on the application form or in a separate report.

The exemption application form and the report on the waste water system attached to the application can be found on this page under instructions and forms.

If water from one's own well is used as household water and the applicant applies for an exemption from connecting to the water supply, he must submit the application as an attachment research certificate on the quality of well water. More information and instructions for sampling can be found under the heading "Instructions and forms".

Domestic water must be tested for the parameters specified in Annex 2 to Decree 401/2001 of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. If the property uses borehole water, radon, arsenic and uranium must also be tested. The parameters to be tested are presented in the Domestic Water Sampling Instructions when applying for an exemption. When purchasing a domestic water test, make sure that all required tests are performed on the water.

If an exemption under the Water Supply Act is not available, it is possible to receive a household deduction or VARKE grant for connection costs under certain conditions.

You can apply in taxation household deduction from the work done in the yard of a single-family house and leisure apartment, for example the installation costs of water and waste water pipes or the renovation and construction work of the waste water system. However, work done in the yard area does not qualify for the household deduction if it is done in connection with new construction.

VARKE (formerly ARA) can grant a grant for elderly (over 65 years of age) or disabled people for measures in a home that is used all year round, which improve the possibilities for living at home. Assistance is provided for connecting to the sewage system if the applicant has no other option. The grant can be granted for a maximum of 50% of the costs, 70% for special reasons.