David Reynolds, Scotland’s Drinking Water Quality Regulator has described the nation’s water as some of the finest in the world.

In his report published on 10 September, which covers last year, he also said that he was “disappointed in the number of incidents where consumers received discoloured water and Scottish Water needs to do more to prevent these situations.” 

316,256 regulatory tests were conducted with 205 failures recorded – a compliance rate of 99.94%.

There were 156,814 tests on samples taken to represent water at consumers taps, and 99.92% complied with the standards, an improvement on the previous year ( 99.88% ).

62,352 tests were conducted on water supplied from treatment works – 23 failed to meet the required standards.

97,090 tests were conducted on samples taken from service reservoirs,
where treated water is stored – 58 did not meet the required standard.

The number of water quality incidents requiring detailed investigation by the DWQR during 2024 was 34, compared with 29 in the previous year, a figure the regulator considers too high. 

Classification of incidents.

Click on this link to download the full report: Public Supplies Annual Report 2024.

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