Argyll and Bute residents who use a private water supply are being urged to make the most of a Scottish Government grant scheme to improve water quality.

The Private Water Supply Grant Scheme is an initiative funded by the Scottish Government to improve the health of its citizens by ensuring all water supplies are up to modern standards.

Owners and users of private water supplies are eligible for a non-means tested grant of up to £800, per property, towards the cost of undertaking improvements on their supply.

To date, the council has received over 450 applications to the grant scheme. Approximately half of these have already had grant money paid and are benefiting from improvements to their drinking water.

However, hundreds of other properties across Argyll and Bute are eligible for the scheme.

Councillor Robert Macintyre, Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for Economy, Environment and Rural Affairs, said: “The most serious risk to health from private water supplies in Argyll and Bute is posed by microbiological contaminants which originate from livestock and wildlife.

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“The symptoms of illness caused by such pathogens range from mild flu-like illness or stomach upsets to serious infection which can ultimately cause death - especially in infants, the elderly or those with immune deficiencies.”

Scottish Government studies carried out in 2002 suggest that people are 22-50 times more likely of becoming ill though drinking water from a private supply as they are from a public supply.

The microbiological quality of drinking water is assessed by monitoring for bacteria called ‘faecal indicator organisms’. Sampling of private water supplies by the council has found the presence of these organisms in almost all untreated supplies derived from surface or spring sources, as well as in a number of well and borehole supplies.

Councillor Macintyre said: “Fortunately, the majority of water supplies do not require expensive and complex water treatment systems. For most supplies, the installation of a simple filtration and sterilisation system is all that is required ensure your supply is of a good quality and free from potential harmful microbiological activity.

“Our experience has found the cost of installing an ultraviolet sterilisation unit and filter set to a property ranges from £700 to £1500 depending on specific requirements of the supply. These costs may be reduced if you can communally treat your supply with other users.”

Anyone considering applying for a grant must do so – and have their application confirmed – before starting any work. Grant assistance cannot be offered to works which have already begun.

There are a number of contractors undertaking these installations across the region, and all works to date have succeeded in bringing water supplies up to the modern standards.

(GK)