Scotland’s drinking water continues to rank among the highest quality globally, according to the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland. The regulator’s 2025 report found that just under 99.9 percent of water tests met the required regulatory standards, underscoring the overall safety and high quality of the supply.

Despite these positive findings, the report highlighted a growing concern over the frequency of discoloured water incidents. David Reynolds, the drinking water quality regulator, emphasized that while consumers can generally trust the safety and quality of their tap water, too many temporary episodes of discolouration occurred that could have been avoided. He noted that consumers expect their drinking water not only to be safe but also to look, taste, and smell good.

The number of consumer complaints about drinking water quality increased to 17,558 in 2025, representing a 5 percent rise compared to 2024. The majority of these grievances were related to water discolouration issues, often involving short-lived changes in appearance but which nevertheless impacted consumer confidence.

Scottish Water, the public water utility, has been the recipient of these complaints and faces ongoing pressure to address the underlying causes. The regulator’s report calls for continued and enhanced efforts to reduce the occurrence of discoloured water incidents in order to maintain public trust in the water supply system.

While the overall water quality remains excellent and compliant with safety standards, the report underscores the need for improvements focused on customer experience and addressing issues that affect the appearance and palatability of drinking water.