Private water supply

If your property is not connected to the public mains water supply (Scottish Water), it will be served by a private water supply. This may come from a borehole, spring, well, burn, or loch.

Private water supplies in Scotland are regulated under The Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supplies) (Scotland) Regulations 2017, which came into force on 27 October 2017. These regulations set out how different types of private water supplies must be monitored and managed.

Under these regulations, the Council is required to regulate and monitor private water supplies that serve the following types of premises:

• rented properties
• tied properties (where accommodation is provided as part of employment)
• self-catering and holiday accommodation
• premises used for the preparation or serving food
• hotels
• village halls
• schools
• residential facilities, such as care homes and outdoor centres
• other workplaces

These supplies are referred to as regulated private water supplies. They must be risk assessed at least once every five years and sampled annually. Charges apply for this work, and details of the current fees can be found in the charges section below.

Small domestic private water supplies, where all properties are owner‑occupied, are not subject to these regulations. However, existing legislation still allows for these supplies to be sampled, risk assessed, and to receive grant assistance to help improve water quality.

If you are unsure which category your private water supply falls into, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss this with you.

Private water supplies are, by their nature, more vulnerable to contamination, which can lead to waterborne infections or other adverse health effects. Regular inspection and appropriate treatment are therefore essential to ensure the water remains safe to use.

Lead in water (public or private supplies)

In Scotland, lead does not occur naturally in significant concentrations in our water supplies. The problem arises when drinking water comes into contact with lead supply pipes, lead tanks, lead solder joints on copper pipes, or inferior quality brass fittings and taps, particularly for longer periods (such as overnight, weekends or holiday periods). This can result in high lead levels in the drinking water supply.

If you suspect you may have lead pipes, the Council encourages you to undertake further works with a view to establishing whether lead is present and in the short-term to implement precautionary measures to protect your health but in the longer term to take steps to replace materials containing lead.

View information on the health effects of exposure to lead (NHS Inform).

Advice for private water supply owners/users during times of water scarcity

There are approximately 1,600 private water supplies in Perth and Kinross. During times of prolonged dry weather, many of these private supplies from springs, surface water or wells may become depleted or fail. It is important that you plan ahead to ensure that you don't run out of water during such times. You should formulate a Water Management Plan which addresses issues such as potential supply failure, water treatment problems and ongoing maintenance to ensure, where possible, water is always supplied to your premises.

The following should be considered in relation to potential supply failure or prolonged dry spells as part of your Water Management Plan.

• Steps you need to take to ensure the network of pipes on your supply are free from breaks and leaks.
• Potential additional sources of water, such as springs or surface water you can tap off to augment your supply, or can you pump water from a loch?
• A list of plant hire companies that may be able to supply you with water bowsers which can be used to replenish tanks (towable water bowsers of approximately 1,100 litres (250 gallons) can be bought for around £2,000).
• It is important to consider the impact of introducing a different supply of water on any water treatment equipment you have. You may want to boil any water that is to be consumed.
• Buying in a supply of bottled water.
• Operators of food businesses will need to consider whether they have a sufficient supply of water to remain operational. View additional guidance on food safety management systems

General advice during times of prolonged dry spells:

Use water wisely, such as:

• use a shower instead of a bath
• full loads in washing machines/dishwashers
• use a watering can in the garden instead of a hose
• use a cistern displacement device

Emergency provision of bottled water

The Scottish Government has arranged for councils to request quantities of bottled water from Scottish Water, which can be made available to those whose private supply has failed. All requests for assistance should be emailed to the Water Team.

The emergency assistance scheme should not be considered a long-term option for supply users nor does it make any attempt to provide a piped supply of wholesome water. This can only be done through improvements to the existing supply, finding an alternative private source or by connecting to the mains network where possible.

Requests for assistance from individual users of private water supplies will be prioritised based on the numbers and vulnerabilities of the people affected.

Once a request for water has been approved, an appointment will be given to collect water from a central Council facility.

The assistance scheme relates to domestic premises. It does not include assistance to commercial premises, farms, equestrian facilities or other livestock, however domestic premises within such premises are eligible. Assistance is for domestic use - drinking, cooking and personal hygiene only.

Where members of the public are especially vulnerable or without transport the Council will endeavour to deliver bottled water, but due to the resource required this service cannot be guaranteed.

Farmers may be able to receive assistance from SEPA who may permit a temporary departure to abstraction permits, where necessary, and the local SEPA office should be contacted for more information regarding this.

SEPA publish regular situation reports regarding groundwater levels.

Frequently asked questions

Is there any grant funding available to help me improve my private water supply?

Grant funding may be available to help improve a property connected to a private water supply. The maximum grant available is £800 per property.

In certain circumstances, where the cost of improving the water supply would cause undue financial hardship, the Council may consider awarding a higher level of grant. This is assessed on a case‑by‑case basis and normally requires evidence that the applicant is in receipt of means‑tested benefits.

Grants cannot be issued retrospectively for works that have already started or been completed, and they cannot be used to fund a connection to the public mains water supply.

Properties that have previously received the full £800 grant are not eligible for any further funding.

Grant funding is also not available for properties that were built, renovated, or subject to significant alteration after 3 July 2006.

For further information and an application form, view Water supply improvement grants.

What is the first step in claiming grant assistance?

The first step is to contact the Private Water Team by emailing WaterTeam@pkc.gov.uk, who can advise on the application process. Group applications with neighbouring properties are encouraged where supplies are shared, although individual properties may also apply.

I have not been feeling well, what illnesses are associated with private water supplies?

Private water supplies can pose a threat to health unless the water is properly protected and treated.

Water borne infections such as Campylobacter, E.coli (O157), Carpospores and Guardia can produce acute gastrointestinal symptoms whilst chemical contaminants are more likely to lead to chronic health effects.

If you think your water supply may be affecting your health, contact your GP.

Can you test for lead content?

For public mains water you should approach your licensed provider, for example Scottish Water.

For regulated private water supplies, testing for lead forms part of the routine regulatory sampling programme and all properties sampled will be informed of any lead issues. For domestic (unregulated) private water supplies, lead sampling can be carried out on request by the Private Water Team.

The ingestion of water containing elevated lead levels can affect neurological development in infants and young children, and boiling water will not reduce lead concentrations.

The most effective solution to a lead problem is usually the removal of lead pipework, or in some cases the installation of specialist lead‑removal filters.

Can you check mains water?

'Mains water' is provided by a licensed water authority, such as Scottish Water.

For most problems involving the public mains, you should approach your licensed water provider, for example Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778 or view the Scottish Water website.

How long do I have to wait for results?

The first bacteriological results are normally known within two to three days, however full chemical samples can take up to four weeks from the date of submission to the Service's Analyst.

Why has my water failed and what do I do next?

Water quality failures can occur for a range of reasons and may be bacteriological and/or chemical in nature.

Where no treatment is in place, there is no protection for water users and even where treatment systems are installed, such as filters, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, or chlorination, this does not guarantee safe water. The water treatment system should be properly designed to suit the raw water quality and flow rate at the property and must be regularly and carefully maintained to remain effective.

You should seek advice from a qualified water treatment specialist to discuss suitable remedial actions, based on the results of any failed sampling.

Where you are responsible for supplying water to others, such as tenants or holiday visitors, you must inform users of any sample failures and ensure that appropriate temporary measures are put in place to protect their health. The most recent results of water sampling must be displayed within the property sampled.

What are the implications of a chemical failure?

Failure of certain chemical parameters may mean that there may be a risk to human health, and may also affect the efficiency of any treatment system.

Should you wish to discuss the results of a chemical failure, please email us at WaterTeam@pkc.gov.uk.

Do you have a list of plumbers/treatment suppliers who can help me?

Please refer to our Useful contacts, list of plumbers and treatment providers (PDF, 178 KB).

I am buying/selling a property with a private water supply. Should I get the water tested?

In certain circumstances, when a property supplied by a private water supply is being bought or sold, conveyancing solicitors may request a recent water sampling report. This is to confirm that the water is wholesome in both bacteriological and chemical terms.

Solicitors will normally expect to see a water analysis report taken within six months of the date of entry. The Private Water Team can arrange sampling and provide advice on the results.

Please allow up to six weeks from the date you contact us for sampling to be carried out and results issued. A charge applies for this service that is to be paid in advance, which is £141.60. This charge is set by legislation under the Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Private water supply charges 2026 to 2027

Regulated supplies (2017 Regulations)

Where the supply serves at least one commercial or public access property, or there are more than 20 domestic properties on the supply.

1. Where an owner requires more than one regulated supply to be sampled or risk assessed on the same day in the same general vicinity, then a discount on the visit charge may be applied. Please ask us for costings.
2. Where more than one relevant person owns properties on a regulated supply, the cost of the risk assessment may be shared between all relevant persons.
3. The annual statutory sample charge is invoiced to the relevant person for the property sampled only. For supplies with multiple commercial properties we will vary the sampling point annually.

Exempt supplies (2006 Regulations)

Where all the properties served are domestic houses.

*Legislation limits the maximum we can charge to £141.60