What to do if your private water supply has run dry
If your water supply is running dry or at serious risk of doing so, it can be a worrying time.
Responsibility for making sure there is enough water lies with:
- the owners and users of the supply
- any third party who manages the supply by contract
Why your supply might run dry
Your supply might stop working because of:
- drought or freezing weather
- undetected leaks or burst pipes
- pump failures or blocked filters
- someone with control of the supply disconnecting it
What you can do
Start by reducing your water use to conserve what you have. Think about where you could get drinking water if your supply dries up.
After your supply is restored
Once your supply is back, check your water system carefully. If you use a surface supply, heavy rain can wash sediment and debris into your water source.
You should:
- replace filters more often
- check your pipes and tanks
- remove anything that could affect water quality
Getting help with drinking water
During a declared water scarcity incident, the Scottish Government may fund an emergency bottled water scheme. We manage this scheme and provide free bottled water to eligible people.
To check if a scheme is in place, contact: envhealth@highland.gov.uk.
If no scheme is active, we may still be able to help. However:
- bottled water is a chargeable service
- you may need to make improvements to your supply to reduce failure
If you need to make improvements, you may be eligible for a grant of up to £800.