Bad weather blamed for water taste

Scottish Water is blaming bad weather for reports of unpleasant tasting drinking water in the West Mainland.

The water company said: “Customers on the west Orkney Mainland may be experiencing an earthy odour or taste from their water. This is due to the bad weather stirring up the sediment in the loch which supplies the nearby treatment works, causing discolouration and putting extra pressure on the treatment process.

“Better weather is forecast for Thursday and Friday, but rain is expected on Saturday. We will keep a careful eye on the situation.

“We are carrying out work at the treatment works to minimise impact on our customers.

“The water is perfectly safe to drink, although we understand that it may not be acceptable for our customers. We apologise for any inconvenience.”