Households with private domestic water supplies urged to use them sparingly
Aberdeenshire Council is warning households with private domestic water supplies to use them sparingly in light of the very dry conditions across the region.
Following below average rainfall in Aberdeenshire recently, there is increasing pressure on water supplies which may not have been replenished sufficiently since last year.
Significant rainfall over a prolonged period is required to restock some supplies, but this is not expected anytime soon.
SEPA has today now raised the river catchments of the rivers Deveron, Ythan and Don in Aberdeenshire to ‘Moderate Scarcity’.
More generally, Scottish Water has warned all households to use all water supplies sparingly after a very dry start to the year.
While private water supplies are the responsibility of the owners/users, Aberdeenshire Council is preparing to provide support to properties which experience water shortages.
This will be access to bottled water for collection at various council premises (to be confirmed) throughout the council area.
Those affected are also being encouraged to use water wisely and follow this advice:
• Ensure your supply is secure with no leaks
• Take timed showers as opposed to baths
• Ensure washing machines and dishwashers are fully loaded
• Harvest rainwater for gardening use and avoid use of hoses
• Consider moving livestock to an alternative supply
• Contact neighbours to discuss your contingency plan
Paul Macari, Head of planning and Economy, said: “Aberdeenshire has around 11,500 properties served by private water supplies and that is by far the highest number of any local authority in Scotland. It is imperative that these private domestic water supplies are used wisely and that all precautions are taken to safeguard dwindling supplies.
"We will be assisting where we can and I would encourage anyone who is having issues with their private domestic supply to get in touch with us as quickly as possible so we can provide support.”
If you need assistance in relation to water supplies, please contact the council by phoning 01467 539539 (during office hours) or by emailing water.admin@aberdeenshire.co.uk
Further updates will be issued via the Aberdeenshire Council website – www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk and social media platforms.