Private water - drought measures????

[B0wer]

There are over 250 households in Caithness that rely on rainwater storage and/or wells for their water. When a mains water supply is cut off the water companies have to distribute bottled water.

Given the the met have forcasted another 3 weeks of very little rain for the north of scotland I am guessing private water supplies are going to start running out.

So my question is what do people on private water do when it does run out? Does the council step in or do they dismiss it as a lifestyle choice and leave you to buy your own bottled water.

I'd hate to think how much it would cost to flush the loo if you were having to power it by bottled water.

[Bill Fernie]

Water can be supplied by the water company but you will have to pay for it if you have a PWS - see https://www.mygov.scot/maintain-private-water-supply/

People on the supplied water system pay for the emergency water by water rates so are covered when that is necessary.

For anyone wondering about Private Water Supplies here is an interesting document and when you think about it people on mains supplies are very lucky in the UK - See http://www.fwr.org/waterq/frg0007.pdf

[B0wer]

Ha! I put in an information request to Scottish water they said talk to enviromental health I tried to talk to enviromental health and was given the run around. They offered to test water, run risk assesments, even mentioned a grant for improving PWS treatment facility but no mention of purchasing water during drought.

For the record I'm on mains I'm just concerned that there might be families out there that are running low on water with nowhere to turn.

If anyone on private water has been through this process and succesfully managed to purchase suplies from Scotttish water could you please get in touch (here or pm) and let me know how you did it. Thanks.

Also does anyone know who is reliant on the beil of duncansby for water? It is still on the private water systems map as supplying water to 1 household...... I've never been to either but I was under the impression that the pump and duncansby light house were unmanned tourist attractions??? The beil of duncansby is listed on the canmore website as an historic mound & wind pump of unknown period!


Yes Bill we are very lucky to be on Mains water. I'm not sure if I could drink well water again now that I know there is a risk of catching viral hepititus !

[Bill Fernie]

Highland Council has issued a statement due increasing enquiries about supplies drying up.

See https://caithness-business.co.uk/article/8482

[Bill Fernie]

Scottish Government has announced help for people with private water supplies if they run out -
https://caithness-business.co.uk/article/8493