A diesel spillage into the River Dochart in Perthshire has left villagers without access to safe drinking water. Scottish Water has been delivering bottled water to residents in Killin for two days, advising them not to use tap water for anything other than flushing toilets. The contamination, caused by an attempted fuel theft at a nearby petrol station, has affected a water treatment plant, leading to a strong solvent taste in the water and air. John Griffin, water operations general manager, assures the public that specialist staff are providing advice and bottled water is being distributed. However, boiling the water will not make it safe to drink, and customers are urged not to use tap water for drinking, cooking, or washing. Scottish Water is working with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and NHS partners to monitor water quality and assess the network. The company has also thanked the community for their patience and cooperation during this challenging time. Door-to-door deliveries of bottled water and a hot food van are available to assist residents. The incident has sparked concern about fuel theft and the impact on the environment. A spokesperson for Certas Energy, which operates the GULF Lix Toll site at Killin, expressed their concern and confirmed they are investigating the incident. The affected areas include several postcodes in Killin, and Scottish Water has assured that water from other reservoirs and treatment works is unaffected. More information and support can be found on Scottish Water's website and by calling their customer support line.
