A private water supply can be defined as any water supply which is not provided by a statutory water supplier, and where the responsibility for its maintenance lies with the owner/user. A private water supply can serve a single household or it can serve a whole community, including commercial or industrial premises, providing water for many purposes.
Although most private water supplies are probably safe to drink most of the time, there are risks and a number of serious illnesses can be contracted from contaminated water. Safe drinking water is essential to good health. All private water supplies can pose a threat to health unless they are properly protected and treated. They may become contaminated with bacteria, protozoa, parasites and viruses (micro-organisms) or other substances. Many of these are harmless, but some may cause serious illness or even death in vulnerable people. You may not be able to tell whether your water is safe, as contamination may not show by smell, taste or colour of the water. Unlike public supplies, many private supplies are not treated to remove contamination.
Scotmas' experience in the treatment of private water supplies is extensive. In the agricultural industry, where water quality parameters are often more stringent than for the supply of potable water, Scotmas provide safe water for poultry farms and processing plants, vegetable washing, horticulture and crop irrigation systems, we also provide building services water (click here), potable water, and ground water cooling system treatments. Methods used for the treatment of raw water will depend on the properties of the water and the presence and concentrations of any contaminants.
Groundwaters usually have low levels of colour and sediment and consistent microbiological quality, although water from shallow wells and some springs may be more variable. Particular problems may include high or low pH value and alkalinity and high concentrations of iron, manganese, nitrate, chlorinated solvents or pesticides.
Surface waters may have high levels of colour and turbidity and exhibit poor microbiological quality. Quality may be variable and deteriorate following periods of heavy rainfall. Other problems may include low pH value and alkalinity and high concentrations of aluminium, iron, manganese, nitrate or pesticides.
The principal sources of private supplies are springs, wells and boreholes. Streams and rivers are also used but to a lesser extent because of the more variable quality of surface waters compared to groundwaters. Whatever the source, it must consistently yield a quantity of water sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the user.