Inverness’ water supply comes from Lochs Ashie and Duntelchaig. The water is pumped through Inverness Water Treatment Works, operated by Scottish Water. If you live in Inverness it’s likely that your water and sewerage services come from Scottish Water, the cost of which is included in your council tax bill.
However, some rural parts of Inverness operate on a private water supply. This means that their water comes from a spring, borehole, well, river or loch rather than Scottish Water.
Many properties in Inverness and the Highlands are on a private water supply, some of which are known as Regulated Supplies, providing water to residential properties of over 50 occupants, Airbnbs, factories and rented cottages.
New Scottish legislation states that landlords 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.
Inverness Council can offer financial assistance of up to £800 per property with a private water supply that currently are without means testing.
Improvement grants are available to nearly all properties served by a private water supply. Applications can be made by owner occupiers, landlords, tenants and other relevant people.
Grants cannot be issued retrospectively for works which are already started, completed or to allow users to connect to the public mains water supply.
Be aware that grants do not always cover the cost of a suitable treatment system and don’t cover ongoing maintenance.
It’s the law for landlords in Inverness, 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 Highlands Council website and HSE provide more information and advice.
Businesses and landlords in Aviemore, Fort William, Kingussie and Mallaig 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 Inverness and the Highlands including Aviemore, Fort William, Kingussie and Mallaig 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 Inverness 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 Inverness 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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