A number of homes in the South Carrick area have been affected by a problem with their water supply.

It is understood that the private water supply to some properties has run dry due to the hot weather.

Elena Whitham the MSP for the region has said she has been in touch with Michael Matheson, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity of Scotland, seeking support to aid South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Water to fix the problem.

However, Scottish Water have said that as the problem is with private water supplies they're not reponsible for addressing the problem.

A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “Across Scotland there are over 20,000 properties which have private water supplies. Scottish Water has emergency procedures in place with all the local authorities across Scotland in the event they need to contact us for assistance."

Earlier this week, Scottish Water issued a plea to people to be mindful of how they use their water as demand is so high during the warm weather that it’s having to produce more than 200 million litres of extra water per day nationwide to maintain normal supplies.

Kes Juskowiak, Scottish Water’s Water Operations General Manager, said on Tuesday: “These are very challenging conditions because of the warm, dry weather we’ve been experiencing and the forecast for the coming days is for more of the same.

“Water levels in our reservoirs are at 74 per cent. This is a fall from 77 per cent last week and from 90 per cent in late May.

“Current levels are below average for this time of year but the main issue is demand for water from customers, which has increased considerably during the warm weather. It’s not isolated to one group but rather is the result of how we all use water in warm weather, particularly in the garden.

“When garden water use increases dramatically, for things like sprinklers and paddling pools, that places considerable strain across our infrastructure to move the water as quickly as the customers need it.

“We are working hard to support the increase in tourism across our wonderful country, but we are asking all our customers to be more water efficient and aware of how the use water.

“If people across the country - residents and visitors or holidaymakers - can take some small, simple steps to reduce their water use, they can make a big contribution towards our efforts to maintain normal supplies for everyone and if we can reduce demand it will also be good for the environment as there will be fewer tankers on the roads.”

The publicly-owned water company is calling on all customers across Scotland to help protect water supplies and use water more efficiently by doing things like:

  • Use a watering can instead of a garden hose because hoses and sprinklers can use about 1000 litres per hour – more than the equivalent of 12 baths
  • Don’t use jet washers, which use an average of 36 litres of water
  • Don’t use paddling pools, which use an average of 400 litres of water (if pools are used try quarter filling them and using the water to water your garden afterwards)
  • turn the tap off when brushing teeth
  • use washing machines and dishwashers only when fully loaded

Have you been affected by the water shortage? Get in touch at editorial@ayradvertiser.co.uk