Scottish Water has lifted restrictions on the use of the water supply in most of the areas of North Lanarkshire affected by a water quality incident, but the advice to people not to use the water remains in place in the Carfin area.

This morning the company said it had made significant progress in tackling the water quality issue and restored most of the public water supply to its normal high quality.  Customers in around 4000 homes and businesses  were being advised that it is now safe to use their water.

However, customers in a number of streets in the Carfin area have been told they should continue to not drink, cook or wash with tap water.

The advice follows contact from customers regarding the taste and smell of mains water. Initial investigations suggest an oily substance is in the network. Scottish Water said it is continuing to carry out sampling and investigations on the network as part of the ongoing investigations which would continue as a matter of priority to establish the cause.

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water’s chief operating officer, said:

“Scottish Water has made good progress in tackling this issue and the improving position has meant we have been able to lift the restrictions in most of the affected areas after discussions with the Consultant in Public Health Medicine.

“We have a significant team working on this issue and many staff will continue to work through the night to ensure that alternative supplies are made available and that this matter is fully resolved. “

Scottish Water is continuing to undertake a range of measures to ensure there are alternative water supplies to customers in the areas still affected and that customers are being kept up-to-date while work progresses.

In total, 600 pallets containing a total of 600,000 litres of bottled water have so far been distributed.