To get a house connected to the public water supply the cost will obviously depend on the amount of work needed by the water company, above all I imagine the distance to the nearest water main. But does anyone know if there is some limit on the cost? I ask because a house near us was recently connected to the electricty supply, and the workmen doing the job explained that although the total cost was over 100,000 Euro the owner was required to pay only 10% of the actual cost

It depends on the company I suppose and where you are. Here the water is publicly owned and run, in many comunes its contracted out to private companies.

We had water connection installed 8 years ago. Only 2m from the supply pipe and a counter placed at the gate. Cost €1000.

Ouch!

We were connected about 6 years ago, water supply pipe was on the other side of the road, but it cost us about the same.