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Highland holiday home owners urged to check safety of private water supplies as hospitality sector prepares to open up as coronavirus restrictions ease


By Hector MacKenzie

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The gradual opening up of the hospitality sector in Ross-shire and across the Highlands has prompted an appeal to holiday home owners to check private water supplies to ensure safety. Picture: Philip Murray
The gradual opening up of the hospitality sector in Ross-shire and across the Highlands has prompted an appeal to holiday home owners to check private water supplies to ensure safety. Picture: Philip Murray

HOLIDAY accommodation providers in the Highlands are being urged to make sure their private water supplies are safe to drink as the tourism and hospitality sector gears up to reopen.

The warning has been issued by Highland Council environmental health officers because a significant number of self-catering and tourist accommodation in the Highlands is served by private water supplies.

With these being closed during the lockdown period, officers now want owners to ensure the quality and safety of the drinking water.

Property owners are advised to inspect and carry out essential maintenance to their private water supply system before receiving their first guests.

Environmental health has prepared a check list to help property owners prepare:

Inspect the water system from “water source to tap” looking for any issues such as choked or damaged pipework and overgrown vegetation that may need cutting back.

Check storage tanks (exterior and interior), clean them and ensure they are in good condition.

Is the treatment system in good working order and all necessary maintenance been carried out e.g. replacing the UV bulb, changing the filters?

Clean and disinfect the water supply system (shock chlorinate).

Prior to re-occupation run the water supply for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Check no other maintenance is required not included in the above.

Anyone with any concerns regarding the water supply or the effectiveness of any water treatment system should follow public health advice and boil all water that is used for drinking, brushing of teeth, or washing vegetables and fruit until such time as they are confident that the supply system is fully operational and can provide safe drinking water.

For further information about maintaining a private water supply please visit: https://www.mygov.scot/maintain-private-water-supply/ or contact environmental health on telephone 01349 886603 or email envhealth@highland.gov.uk.


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