Private water supplies

Water sampling

The Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006 require that, depending on supply type, the number of persons using the supply and / or the amount of water used, the supply be sampled at varying intervals.

Commercial business or large domestic supplies have to be registered with us and must be sampled at least once a year.

For further information to register a supply or to request water sampling please contact the Environmental Health Team.

Further advice and guidance is available from Private Water Supplies

Grants for improvements to Private Water Supplies

Grants of up to £800 per property are currently available from us to help improve private water supplies. The Grant Scheme is non-means tested.

Improvements may include the installation of treatment equipment, such as Ultra-violet or Ceramic filters, the replacement of storage tanks and pipe work, or for the provision of a new private water supply such as a borehole or domestic distribution system.

Grants are not available for replacement of private water supplies by connecting to a mains supply.

You may be eligible for a grant if:

• your home or business is in the Borders and served by a private water supply
• the private water supply is the main or sole source of water for human consumption  (water used for drinking, cooking, food preparation and/or washing
• your private water supply is in need of improvement to bring it up to modern standards.

If you share your supply with a number of neighbouring premises, a joint application can be submitted on behalf of all the premises served by the supply. In many cases, a joint approach is likely to provide the most effective long-term solution to improve water quality.

We can provide information, advice and even help you complete the grant application form. Please contact us for further information.

Further advice and guidance is also available from Private Water Supplies