Essentially all of our water in Scotland comes from rain, and we certainly get more than our fair share's worth of that on this planet!

When it rains two things can happen:

The water can flow into streams, rivers, lochs and reservoirs, and this type of water is known as surface water,

Alternatively, the water can also seep through the ground until it passes through.  It then forms pools and this type of water is known as ground water. It is often very pure as many of the pollutants are naturally filtered out through the seeping process.

Some Scottish Water customers are supplied with water from ground water sources, however, most of our customers receive their tap water from surface water sources.

To find out more about the water cycle click here

Why does water need to be treated?

As humans we cannot live without water and we depend on it for nearly everything that we do.  If water carries certain micro organisms, this could seriously damage our health.  As a result, the main aim of our treatment processes is to remove any harmful organisms to ensure that your water is safe to use and drink.

Water quality and the law

There are very strict laws that govern drinking water quality in the UK.  The water that we supply to our customers must meet high standards set by the government and the European Union.  To ensure that the water at your taps meets these quality targets we regularly sample and test the water both at the treatment works and at customers' taps.

These sample results are available at your Regional Scottish Water office.

How do we make your water safe?

The way we treat your water depends on where it has come from.  Surface and ground waters do contain some naturally occurring substances, as seen previously.  Each water source will have unique characteristics and requires a tailored treatment process to ensure that it is safe for you to drink.

A typical treatment process -
1. screening
2. chemical treatment and clarification
3. filtration
4. disinfection
5. pH adjustment

To find out more about the water treatment process click here

Alternatively download our leaflet called ´your water explained' located on the right of this page, or read about our Water Quality