Ayrshire’s tap water changed radically this week and the supplier has been blasted for pathetic communication.
Scottish Water added ammonia rather than the current dose of just chlorine at Loch Bradan.
The water authority sent an A5 card to all householders with the heading “Do you look after any fish or aquatic pets?”.
And for further information on the “chloramination” process it directed people to a page on their website which did not exist.
The public agency claimed this week it did not have to consult its customers, some of whom pay them £729 a year.
A petition has been launched, asking Scottish Water to make the process “transparent.”
And it states: “We should be concerned about human health as well as the health of our pets.”
Concerned customer Karin Craig, from Dalrymple, said she felt “blind-sided” by Scottish Water.
She said: “It has just been imposed on us without consultation and there was only a three-week notification of the change to chloramination.
“This new process appears to be toxic for some fish but the card through the post makes no mention of it being harmful to some people on dialysis.”
Scottish Water say the new process has nothing to do with the Ayrshire supply being linked by the new pipeline to Glasgow’s Loch Katrine source and that one million Scots already have it.
All taps should have the newly treated water within weeks.
A Scottish Water spokeswoman said: “Chloramination offers a longer-lasting treatment process and, unlike chlorine, also has the benefit of having no significant taste or odour.
“As part of our long-term investment programme to improve water quality we are gradually increasing the number of areas in Scotland being supplied with chloraminated water.
“When it comes to kidney dialysis patients and fish special care and precautions need to be taken with chloraminated water.
“With dialysis chloramines are only harmful when they directly enter the bloodstream.
“In kidney dialysis water comes into contact with blood so it is essential that the water should not contain any extra cleansing agents like chlorine or chloramines.
“Fish, frogs and turtle owners should already be aware that chlorine is harmful to their pet and that preparations to neutralise chlorine are readily available.
“Chloramines can similarly be harmful to pet fish and other aquatic pets but can be neutralised by water conditioning agents available from your pet shop.
“Biological filters are effective in reducing the amount of ammonia present. Anyone in any doubt should contact their aquatic pet shop, specialist society or vet.
“If fish are kept in a pond which needs topped up you should monitor chloramine residual levels using a total chlorine test kit and the residual level should be kept below 0.1mg/L.
“As this treatment process is widely used and is an accepted method for the treatment of drinking water there is no requirement to formally consult the public on this matter.”
Article originally appeared on Daily Record
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