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Connecting to the mains water supply

Last updated
5 Oct 2022

Connecting to Scottish Water provides a consistent, safe supply of water.

Before you decide whether to connect to the mains, you can contact your local council for advice on how to improve your existing private supply.

Aberdeen City Council Aberdeenshire Council Angus Council Argyll and Bute Council Clackmannanshire Council Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) Dumfries and Galloway Council Dundee City Council East Ayrshire Council East Dunbartonshire Council East Lothian Council East Renfrewshire Council Edinburgh Council Falkirk Council Fife Council Glasgow City Council Highland Council Inverclyde Council Midlothian Council Moray Council North Ayrshire Council North Lanarkshire Council Orkney Islands Council Perth & Kinross Council Renfrewshire Council Scottish Borders Council Shetland Council South Ayrshire Council South Lanarkshire Council Stirling Council West Dunbartonshire Council West Lothian Council

You may be able to get a non means-tested grant of up to £800 to improve your supply, but you can't use the grant for connecting to Scottish Water.

How to apply for a mains connection

Scottish Water are responsible for connections to the mains water supply.

To apply, you'll need to fill in the Water Connection Application form.

You can get the form:

Find more information about connecting to the mains water supply on the Scottish Water website.

Financial help for connecting to the mains water supply

If a public water main will have to be extended so you can connect to the public network, you may be able to get financial help from Scottish Water. You can't get financial help for single house connections or improvements/replacements of pipework on your property.

You can't get financial help from Scottish Water to transfer from a private to a public water supply.

Water quality checks

Good water quality is important for your health. Before connecting your property to the public water network, Scottish Water will check that you will have enough tap water and that it will be good quality. In some cases, Scottish Water may make improvements before connecting you.

Scottish Water will:

  • check that there's enough water in Scottish Water's system to cope with the extra connection
  • check that your pipework meets certain standards, does not leak and will not risk the water quality of the public water main

If Scottish Water won't connect you to the public water system

You can appeal if Scottish Water refuses to connect you to the mains water system.

Visit the Citizens Advice Scotland Website to find out:

  • who to appeal to
  • the appeal process
  • how much it costs
  • how long it takes
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