Homes across Benbecula and South Uist are having bottled water delivered to them after being advised to stop using tap water.
Scottish Water issued an alert yesterday after residents reported a strange odour and oily taste in their water.
Those in affected areas have been told to stop using their tap water for drinking, cooking, washing and boiling until further notice.
What can Benbecula and South Uist residents do amid tap water warning?
Scottish Water has been working through the night to distribute bottled water to over 1,000 homes and businesses in Benbecula and the northern parts of South Uist.
Pop-up water tanks have also been deployed in several areas. You can find a list of where these are located below:
- Balivanich Community Hall (HS7 5LQ)
- Old Balivanich School (HS7 5LS)
- Liniclate Community School (HS7 5PJ)
- 6 Dun Mor, West Gerinish (HS8 5RW)
People should take their own suitable containers to collect water from the tanks.
When collecting water, residents should open the tap on the front of the tank, then fill their containers – people are advised to bring their own – and close the tap.
Any water taken must then be boiled before use and should be used within 48 hours.
Some residents have also received a home delivery of bottled water though the night, prior to a collection point for additional supplies of water being set up at the Old Balivanich School.
Another door-to-door distribution of water can be expected again tonight, alongside a letter with a further update for affected customers.
Work has begun to flush local water
Scottish Water said the source of the issue was traced yesterday to a fuel leak from a generator that provides a back-up power supply for a pumping station at Loch Eilean Iain.
It has been isolated and work has begun to flush the local water network.
Water samples are also being taken for analysis at Scottish Water’s specialist laboratories.
Scottish Water is liaising closely with the Consultant in Public Health Medicine at NHS Western Isles about the recovery effort.
A spokesman for Scottish Water said: “We have mobilised a full incident response team in order to support our customers and restore normal service via the water network as soon as we can be confident that the islands’ drinking water is meeting its normal high standard.
“We would like to acknowledge the enormous assistance we have already had from our island-based contractors, our other emergency response partners and the local community.
“Additional specialist resources have been brought on to the island and further Scottish Water staff and contractors will arrive today.
“We have been able to supplement normal supplies of bottled water on the island – and are making arrangements to continue for as long as is required. Pop-up water tanks will also continue to be maintained and replenished.
“We would like to apologise to customers for the significant inconvenience that we know the need for these measures will be causing.
“Our focus is on providing as much support as we can, while we work to restore normal service as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Outer Hebrides residents still smell odour from water
One woman in Benbecula admitted she had initially panicked when she heard the warning.
She said: “You initially panic and think about how you are going to do everything, as you really do depend on water.
“I put the tap on not long ago and I could still smell the odour coming from the tap.
“My auntie actually started to wonder if something was wrong yesterday, before we found out, as her dog hadn’t touched his water bowl.
“We are just taking each day as it comes and hope it is resolved soon. But, they have been really good with issuing updates online.”
Scottish Water said they will continue to provide regular updates on their website and by distributing notices in the affected area.
Anyone in need of additional support can sign up to their priority services register by calling their helpline 0800 077 8778.
