A private water supply is any water supply that is not provided by a water company (water undertaker) and which is not be considered to be a "mains" supply. Private water supplies can be obtained from a variety of sources including:

• springs
• wells
• boreholes
• rivers and streams
• lakes or ponds

All private supplies intended for human consumption. This includes:

• domestic purposes (drinking, cooking, food preparation and washing); and
• commercial (food production, holiday homes, bed and breakfast accommodation, caravan and camp sites).

All private water supplies can pose a potential threat to public health unless they are properly protected and treated. Unlike mains water supplies, many private supplies are not treated to remove contamination. You may not be able to tell whether your water is safe as contamination may not show in the colour, taste or smell of the water.

We are required to sample and monitor water from private supplies.

Further information can be found on the Drinking Water Inspectorate website.