Strathspey residents, who claim their water supply smells and tastes so bad that even animals do not want to drink it, have set up a campaign group to put their case to Scottish Water.
They are also concerned that it could be causing health problems affecting local residents’ skin, eyes and stomachs.
And they are appealing for anyone who feels they may have suffered in this way to get in touch.
The new organisation, called Strathspey Water Group, is chaired by Nethy Bridge farmer John Kirk, who claimed his cows and dogs were reluctant to drink it.
He said: “We’ve formed the group to try and make more people aware of the situation and gather as much information as possible to enable us to take this situation forward.
“We are keen to hear from anyone who has been ill, mainly with skin, eye or stomach problems, which they think might be related to the water supply.
“We know of a few people who were having health problems that cleared up as soon as they stopped drinking the water.”
The complaints about the taste and smell of the water, allied to alleged health problems, began after Scottish Water switched the supply to around 10,000 homes in the area.
This was transferred from Loch Einich in the Cairngorm mountains to an underground supply, extracted via boreholes, when a new £24million water treatment works opened in Aviemore.
Scottish Water is now planning to use a process called chloramination, which involves adding less chlorine and very small quantities of ammonia, to the water.
A spokesman for the company said: “We look forward to discussing all aspects of our proposal to enhance the treatment process in the Aviemore area with all interested customers and groups.
“While the water currently provided to customers is fully safe and compliant with strict and independently-set quality standards, we recognise that some people do not like the taste.
“That’s why we are engaging with the community on proposals to help to improve the taste.”
He pointed out that chloramination was already used to supply one in four of Scottish Water’s customers.
Anyone wishing to contact the new group can do so via a social networking website or by writing to Mr Kirk at Rothiemoon Farm, Nethy Bridge, PH25 3DD.
