Discoloured water in Wishaw
Discoloured water in Wishaw
We are aware that some customers in parts of Wishaw (ML1 and ML2) may have experienced discoloured water in their supply this week.
This discolouration can occur when there is a disturbance in the local water network, causing naturally occurring sediment in the water mains to become unsettled and shift within the pipes.
Recently, there was a fire in the area which required the fire service to use hydrants, and earlier this week, we repaired a burst water main. Both of these events can contribute to temporary water discolouration.
We want to assure customers that their water is safe to use for all everyday activities, including drinking, cooking, bathing, and showering. While the water may appear different, it poses no health risk.
If you notice discoloured water, it can usually be cleared by running the first incoming cold water tap (typically in the kitchen) on a gentle flow until the water runs clear.
Our engineers are actively conducting strategic flushing at multiple points throughout the network to resolve the issue. The time required to restore clear water may vary depending on the location of each property, such as whether it is situated on higher or lower ground.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your patience and understanding.
If you would like to receive updates by Text message during service interruptions in your area, please provide your details at the following page: Sign Up for Alerts · Scottish Water
If you require immediate additional support, please use our How to Contact Us page, or call us on 0800 0778 778.
If you require additional support for future incidents, please use this link to sign up as a Priority Services Customer.
Interruption to supply
When we are doing maintenance or repairs to the water network, you may experience cloudy or discoloured water. This video explains what to do if you are affected.
Burst Water Main FAQs
Discoloured Water FAQs
If the water from your cold kitchen tap (or any other mains fed tap) suddenly becomes discoloured, this could be because some maintenance or repair work is being carried out on our network in your area. If we have not informed you of any work being carried out, please contact us for more details. If we are not working in your area, we will investigate the cause of discolouration for you and let you know. For more information please see our factsheet: Colour, taste and odour explained.
In most cases discoloured water is not harmful and can be cleared by running the first incoming cold water tap (usually in the kitchen) at a trickle until it clears. Very occasionally customers have noticed "tiny particles" or "bits" in their tap water. This can be caused by planned or unplanned work to the water supply network which causes natural sediment in the pipes to shift (quite often this is a dark red, brown colour).
Small dark grey or black particles can occasionally be caused if your pipework is made from lead. This is most likely if your house was built before 1970. For more information see our Lead and Your Water pages.
