Public and private water supplies
Supporting information for Scottish Landlord Registration
Key points
Most properties let by landlords in Scotland are in urban areas and have a public water supply from Scottish Water. Properties in more rural or remote parts of Scotland may have a private water supply. Private water supplies in Scotland are the responsibility of owners and users and are regulated by local authorities.
Further context
Scottish Water
Landlords whose properties are supplied by Scottish Water should refer to their website https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/ to find any further information they need. If a tenant reports a problem with the water supply there is a section on the Scottish Water website to check what is happening in any Scottish postcode area.
Private Water Supply
The Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supplies) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 came into force in October 2017, and are regulated and enforced by the local authorities. The main objective of the Regulations is to ensure the provision of clean, safe drinking water and to deliver significant health benefits to those using private water supplies.
Local Authorities are required to maintain a register of every private water supply to premises in its area.
The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQR) has an independent role in verifying that the Regulations are complied with. The full Regulations can be accessed here. For further information visit http://dwqr.scot/private-supply/regulatory-information/