'Do not drink' tap water warning issued after fault identified at Scottish Borders treatment works
Last updated 27th Aug 2025
Hundreds of people living in the Scottish Borders are being advised not to drink their tap water.
It comes after a fault was identified at a treatment works in Berwickshire, which Scottish Water says "has resulted in drinking water quality for the area falling below its normally high standard."
Bottled water is being delivered to homes in the TD11 postcode area, which covers an area around Longformacus, Preston and Duns after the alarm was raised earlier this afternoon (Tuesday).
Around 275 properties served by Rawburn Water Treatment Works have been left without water while emergency repairs are carried out.
In a notice to customers, a Scottish Water spokesperson said: "We appreciate that this situation must be very inconvenient and distressing for you.
"We have already isolated a storage tank at the treatment works as a precautionary measure, while we continue with our investigations.
"Please be assured that public health is our absolute priority and that we are working continuously to restore normal water supplies as soon as possible."
And they added: "As is normal practice in cases of concern about drinking water quality, Scottish Water is liaising closely with the Consultant in Public Health Medicine at NHS, as well as the Drinking Water Quality Regulator."
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As a precaution, water chiefs are asking all customers in the affected areas not to use their tap water for: Drinking; cleaning teeth; preparing baby feeds and disinfecting equipment; preparing foods (including ice cubes and salads); pet food and drink; and washing open wounds
But it says it can still be used for: Bathing, showering and washing (except for open wounds); washing dishes; washing clothes; and flushing toilets.
The message from Scottish Water continued: "Today and into this evening, our teams will be attending each property to provide precautionary notification advising DO NOT USE for drinking or cooking, as well as providing bottled water to each property.
"This will remain in place until we are satisfied through a series of sampling that the water has returned to our normal high standards."
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