This short animation, produced by the ‘Taps’ Aff!’ project, explains how private water supplies work: from sourcing and distribution to treatment and everyday use.

Mainstream news love a ‘troubled’ planning application by a celebrity, and Stella McCartney’s ambitions for her and her husband Alasdhair Wills’ new £5 million home on Moidart Peninsula were further complicated by an earlier report from Highland Water Supplies stating that ‘drilling to 100m depth, possibly further, may well be necessary.’

The Northern Times reported on a community advice session organised by the Culrain & District Hall Committee, which aimed to help local people understand the Inveroykel Wind Farm planning application and its expected impact on the area.

The proposal includes development planned on land that provides the watercourse to 44 properties reliant on a private water supply.

Guardian article “Race to find source of carcinogenic Pfas in Cumbria and Lancashire waters”about forever chemicals in an area of outstanding natural beauty and private water supplies. From 14 February 2026

This successful crowdfunder campaign was managed by the local Scouts group who asked for support in meeting the £51k to complete a new fresh water supply infrastructure project for their campsite, which welcomes over 8,000 Scouts members per year. The cost was additional to the £18k already spent on the initial stage to establish that a fresh water supply was both available and viable. The story was picked up by the Daily Record. From 30 September 2025

Scottish Land & Estates blog “Water and Wastewater: The Overlooked Burden on Private Landowners” where SLE arranged for Scottish Government representatives to visit Whittingehame Estate’s private water supply as well as Fenton Barns’ private sewerage system. From 14 December 2024