COVID-19: Water supply
Latest update, published on 7th April by Stirling Council on behalf of Scottish Water.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is presenting an unprecedented challenge to people across Scotland. It is being met by an extraordinary response from our NHS and right across our communities. We wanted to give you a quick update on the steps that Scottish Water is taking to ensure we can maintain supplies of clear, fresh and great-tasting drinking water. We also continue to treat the country’s waste water so that it can be safely returned to the environment.
This newsletter includes information about how customers and communities can help our local, front-line teams to keep Scotland’s water flowing, especially at this challenging time. It also highlights resources to help parents and carers looking for fun, educational materials and activities to use with children at home.
Maintaining the essential services that our customers rely upon
Scottish Water’s first priority at this time is maintaining the provision of water and waste water services to our customers across the country, whilst protecting the health of our employees, supply chain and communities. Our front-line teams are working around the clock to keep customers supplied with water and treat the country's waste water, following new procedures wherever necessary to safeguard their health and that of our customers. They are supported by colleagues in a range of office-based roles who are working from home, with all main Scottish Water offices currently closed.
It remains necessary for Scottish Water to carry out some essential works. You may see our front-line teams and key, supply-chain partners working to fix burst water mains, carry out urgent sewer repairs or clear blockages, any of which may require groundworks and machinery. Please be assured that the work taking place is essential to ensure that customers continue to receive a consistently high level of service.
Click here for the latest Scottish Water update on Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Help us battle blockages by binning toilet unflushables
While our teams are working around the clock to keep Scotland’s water cycle flowing, we’re asking everyone across our communities to help play their part. In the final two weeks of March, our local sewer response teams attended and cleared a total of 1,343 blocked sewer pipes across the country.
Potential alternatives to toilet paper like wipes, kitchen roll, blue roll and others are not designed to break up in the sewer system - and risk causing internal flooding to homes, avoidable health risks and environmental pollution. Especially at this time, we are asking customers to help us keep the waste water network flowing by only flushing the Three Ps: pee, poo and toilet paper. Anything else should be put in a bag and disposed of in the bin.
Please help us by sharing and supporting this message in your community:
Click here for further information about our campaign
Click here for a Facebook message which you can share
Click here for a Twitter message which you can share
Useful resources for parents and carers
We know that in the current situation, many parents and carers are having to entertain and educate children at home, while juggling their own work and other roles. We have a great range of online materials, games and activities that can help – suitable for children from pre-school years to S3. The resources provide a fun introduction to the water cycle, the way our bodies rely on water, the environment and how to save water.
Click here to visit our Scottish Water education resources
Here to help you
To report disruption to essential services in your community, or any other urgent service-related issues, please contact our Customer Engagement Centre on 0800 077 8778 or by