Dumfries and Galloway’s water is supplied by various reservoirs, such as Penwhirn, Glenkiln, Black Esk and Kettleton. The reservoirs are managed by Scottish Water who ensure that customers in the Dumfries and Galloway catchment receive clean, fresh drinking water to their homes.
There are over 25,000 lochs in Scotland and they play an important role in supplying Scotland’s population with fresh drinking water. If a rural property in Dumfries and Galloway uses a private water supply it means that their water comes from a spring, borehole, well, river or loch rather than Scottish Water.
Roughly 3,000 properties are using one of 1,400 private water supplies in Dumfries and Galloway. These properties could be domestic or commercial, such as Airbnbs or holiday homes.
New Scottish legislation states that landlords in Dumfries and Galloway who rent out entire properties or single rooms within a house that uses a private water supply, have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of their tenants by testing their water supply.
While it’s your responsibility to maintain and manage your private water supply, the quality and quantity of the water provided is monitored by your local council.
All private water supplies in Dumfries and Galloway must be registered with the Council. A private water supply is one which is not provided by Scottish Water. This may come from a loch, burn, spring, well, river, pond, borehole or a combination of these.
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Environmental Health Service sample commercial supplies at least once a year to ensure they’re free from contamination and safe to drink.
How much will a water sample cost?
You can register your private water supply with Dumfries and Galloway Council here.
To get more informtion about your private water supply in Dumfries and Galloway, visit the government website, call 030 33 33 3000 or email EnvironmentalHealth@dumgal.gov.uk
It’s the law for landlords in Dumfries and Galloway, or premises managers, to conduct Legionella Risk Assessments on your holiday lets, Airbnbs or any other residential lettings. Tenants have a right to know they’re drinking from a private water supply and failure to comply with new Scottish Government legislation means you could face hefty fines or imprisonment.
A Legionella Risk Assessment will find impurities in your water and suggest how to prevent contamination in the first place.
A Legionella Risk Assessment won’t fix the risks identified in your water supply. You will need to book further water treatment to ensure your supply is hygienic and safe for human consumption. The Dumfries and Galloway Council website and HSE provide more information and advice.
Businesses and landlords in Stonehaven, Banff, Fraserburgh and Banchory are already using PHX for efficient, affordable private water treatment services. We provide Legionella Risk Assessments, Water Testing and Sampling and tank cleaning services in One Simple Package.
Hotels, holiday lets, Airbnbs and domestic properties—90% of customers return to us for remedial works and annual testing to keep their businesses legally complaint.
For peace of mind book a visit from one of our expert engineers today.
PHX Water provides private water supply testing throughout Scotland. We provide Legionella Risk Assessment, Water Tank Cleaning & Disinfection, water testing and private water supply installation.
Our private water supply testing system ensures that the amount of bugs, chemicals, and metals in your water stays below a certain level. This means that your building will comply with Scottish water maintenance laws. It is important to note that a water supply sample can only provide a snapshot of the moment it was taken.
If you have a large, industrial, or commercial private water supply in Scotland you must have it tested once a year.
Here are some of the other services we cover:
No more sleepless nights worrying about your private water supply. Our expert team are here for you, even in an emergency.
Complete our contact form or call 01738 472149 to receive a quotation
One of our friendly team will confirm a date and estimated time of arrival for your appointment.
An engineer will be with you on your scheduled date, with a curtesy call to confirm they’re on route.
An engineer will risk assess your water system as outlined above.
You’ll be provided an easy to understand report and digital logbook to manage your ongoing water treatment needs.
Yes, PHX work with customers all over Dumfries and Galloway including Stonehaven, Banff, Fraserburgh and Banchory and more. Get in touch for a free consultation with one of our friendly members of staff.
If you’re a landlord or own commercial properties in Dumfries and Galloway that feed on private water supplies, you have a legal responsibility to test the water. A risk assessment isn’t necessary if your private water supply is for a domestic property, although you do have a duty of care towards those in your household who use the water supply.
Any property in Dumfries and Galloway not served by Scottish Water will be on a private water supply. This means water comes to your property from a borehole, spring, well, burn or loch.
Many remote parts of Scotland, such as the Highlands and Islands, rely on private water supplies for their drinking water. Roughly 3% of Scots’ water comes from a spring or borehole instead of being provided by Scottish Water. It’s the responsibility of property owners to regularly test their water supply to ensure it’s safe to drink.
In Scotland, private water supplies are defined as those that are not provided by Scottish Water. Private water supplies are either commercial or domestic and there’s different rules for each.
If carefully managed, a high standard of drinking water can be maintained from a private supply. However, there are serious health risks if water treatment is neglected. E-coli, Legionella and other harmful bacteria can easily breed in dirty water tanks if you’re not careful.
The ‘Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supplies) (Scotland) Regulations 2017’ came into effect in 2017. These new regulations require private water supplies to be risk assessed once every 5 years and sampled annually. Your local council can carry out a risk assessment and will charge you for this service.
Small domestic water supplies, where all the properties are owner occupied, are exempt from these new regulations.
On a private water supply you might run low or run out of water completely. Scottish Water can provide you with water in such emergencies and you’ll have to arrange this with your local council. If you think something is wrong with your current supply don’t drink the water. Use bottled water and wait until a professional has identified the source of the problem.
Our opening hours are 8am-4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Please call us on +44 (0) 1738 231670 or complete the form below. Should your enquiry be urgent, please call our emergency number +44 (0) 7503 343328.
Our opening hours are 8am-4.30pm Monday to Friday. Please call us on +44 (0) 1738 231670 or complete our contact form.
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