Private water supplies are defined as those that are not provided by Scottish Water.
Many households and businesses rely on these supplies. It is important they are protected from the impacts of land use changes and forestry operations.
Private water supplies can vary by:
- source
- design
- size
- local environmental conditions.
Private water supply guidance
Guidance is available to support forest managers, planners, and practitioners. The guidance covers:
- planning and approval
- operational planning
- in-operations
- post-operations
By following the guide, you can apply due diligence and protective measures.
These will help safeguard water quality, quantity, and water supply infrastructure during forestry activities.
The latest guidance replaces the 2018 version from Forest and Water Scotland.
Managing Forestry Operations to Protect Private Water Supplies (will link later, doc to migrate)
This additional guidance looks at the water environment as a whole and is relevant for private water supplies.
Managing forest operations to protect the water environment (Forest Research website)
This guidance provides advice on how forest operations should be planned and managed to protect the water environment.
