Consumers Choice of Treatment System for Private Water Supplies - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Consumers’ Choice of Treatment System for Private Water Supplies Gail Walker Water Policy Team Manager Citizens Advice Scotland

Content > A brief overview of CAS and the role of the Water Policy Team > Research Findings > Recommendations

CAS and its role within the water industry Recognised consumer representative body in • Scotland for: Water • Energy • Post • Member of the Scottish Government’s • Outputs Monitoring Group (public supplies) Member of the Rural Provision Working • Group (private supplies)

Research Objectives Considerations and criteria applied by users in • selecting water treatment systems External factors that influenced decision making • Sourcing relevant expertise and delegating • decision making Availability of information on different systems, • and quality of information Maintenance regime •

Research Findings No treatment system in use or maintenance • regime for unregulated supplies Choice criteria delegated largely to ‘on • recommendation’ from LA or contractor and cost Common resources: local plumber, specialist • Issues: poor workmanship, incorrect advice • No process of ‘discover / test / decide / deploy’ • Maintenance varies considerably • Self- treating based on ‘visible water quality issues’ •

Recommendations Improve access to information and support • on connecting to the mains water supply Raise awareness of and improve content of • existing information and support More engagement with supply owners • around water quality testing & risk assessment Review the private water supply grant • Improve support for contractors • Supporting and streamlining the process for • installing boreholes

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