Mains water quality
Scottish Water supplies mains water in Scotland. If you have a problem with the public mains water supply, contact your licensed water provider first, for example Scottish Water.
Lead in water
In Scotland, lead isn't naturally found in our water. The problem happens when drinking water touches things like:
- lead pipes or tanks
- lead solder joints on copper pipes
- poor quality brass fittings and taps
This is more likely if water sits in the pipes for a long time, for example overnight, weekends and holidays, causing high lead levels in the drinking water supply.
Lead can be harmful if it builds up in your body, so it's important to check if you have lead water pipes in your home.
There are short-term ways to reduce lead contact, however removal of lead from the supply structure is the best way to manage lead in water.
For more information visit Scottish Water: Lead and your water.
Landlords' responsibilities
The statutory guidance for landlords changed on 1 March 2024. Registered landlords must provide a wholesome drinking water supply for tenants, and must:
- test the water at the start of any new tenancy and every year thereafter
- check that the pipework for supply drinking water is in good condition and safe to use ensuring there is no remaining lead supply pipework within rented properties
This applies to properties with mains water supplies. Lead is one of the parameters tested within the analysis for private water supplies and regulated supplies must be tested yearly.
Charges for testing water supplies
Registered landlords can contact us, and we can test the water supply for lead content for a charge of £35 per sample. Each sampling kit is designed to be used at one property only and so a charge of £35 applies to each property you require to be sampled. After payment, we will contact you within five working days to arrange a visit to deliver the sampling kit or take the sample for you.
If we can't take a sample or deliver the sample kit due to access or other issues, the fee will still be charged as a callout charge if Environmental Health staff have already attended.
Please note it can take up to six weeks to get the results from our partner lab. You’ll receive the results by email, showing if the water test passed or failed.