Working to maintain supplies during cold weather in Orkney
Protect your pipes this winter
We currently have relocated two water tankers to Orkney, from the mainland to help keep customers in supply.
This is due to slightly lower water levels than usual at both Kirbister and Boardhouse Water Treatment Works. These proactive measures are also being taken due to the potential for warmer weather at the start of next week, which in turn can cause bursts on the network.
The best protection against frozen pipes is warmth, so if possible, we recommend leaving your heating on a low setting, or having it come on a few times throughout the day while temperatures are low.
If a pipe is already frozen, turn off your water supply at your stop valve and open all cold taps to drain the system. Do not open your hot taps as if you have a hot water cylinder it could collapse.
You can try to thaw out your frozen pipes with a heated cloth wrapped around any frozen sections. Never apply direct flame to the pipes or try to thaw them by turning on your heating.
If you are in any doubt about what to do, or if frozen pipes have caused a burst or leak, please contact a licensed plumber. To find a licensed plumber in your area visit WaterSafe at www.watersafe.org.uk or SNIPEF at www.needaplumber.org
For more information on frozen pipes, including helpful videos and resources, please see: https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Your-Home/Campaigns/Winter-Wrapped-Up
If you would like to receive updates by Text message during service interruptions in your area, please provide your details at the following page: Sign Up for Alerts · Scottish Water
If you require immediate additional support, please use our How to Contact Us page, or call us on 0800 0778 778.
If you require additional support for future incidents, please use this link to sign up as a Priority Services Customer.
Interruption to supply
When we are doing maintenance or repairs to the water network, you may experience cloudy or discoloured water. This video explains what to do if you are affected.
Burst Water Main FAQs
Discoloured Water FAQs
If the water from your cold kitchen tap (or any other mains fed tap) suddenly becomes discoloured, this could be because some maintenance or repair work is being carried out on our network in your area. If we have not informed you of any work being carried out, please contact us for more details. If we are not working in your area, we will investigate the cause of discolouration for you and let you know. For more information please see our factsheet: Colour, taste and odour explained.
In most cases discoloured water is not harmful and can be cleared by running the first incoming cold water tap (usually in the kitchen) at a trickle until it clears. Very occasionally customers have noticed "tiny particles" or "bits" in their tap water. This can be caused by planned or unplanned work to the water supply network which causes natural sediment in the pipes to shift (quite often this is a dark red, brown colour).
Small dark grey or black particles can occasionally be caused if your pipework is made from lead. This is most likely if your house was built before 1970. For more information see our Lead and Your Water pages.
