Scottish government provides bottled water where private supplies have run dry

The Scottish government has set up a support scheme to provide free bottled water to customers on private supplies whose water sources have dried up in the recent hot weather.

Some Scottish springs, streams and rivers used for private supplies, particularly in the North and West, are now running dry and, despite the forecasts of heavy rain for parts of Scotland, will remain vulnerable.

While it is the responsibility of owners to maintain private water supplies, the Scottish government is providing support to households affected by the shortages, including funding, through the local council and Scottish Water.

Around 3% of Scotland’s population is on a private water supply (over 150,000 people) but in some areas the concentration is much higher. One-third of the population in Argyll and Bute for example has a private supply.