Part of the Legionella Data Index · compiled 2 August 2026
57Confirmed cases, 2024 (10.4 per million, PHS)
3Enforcement cases tracked
£198kTotal fines in tracked cases
22Towns in the hardness dataset
01 / SURVEILLANCE
Legionnaires' disease in Scotland
The most recent Public Health Scotland surveillance report recorded 57 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease in Scotland in 2024, a rate of 10.4 per million residents (report published 26 August 2025).
These figures are published by Public Health Scotland, not UKHSA — UKHSA surveillance covers England and Wales only. Surveillance counts only laboratory-confirmed, reported cases, so they are a floor rather than the true total.
Whatever the count, the duties do not change: a non-domestic water system in Scotland still needs a risk assessment, a written scheme of control, and the records to show the scheme is being followed. Source: Public Health Scotland, Legionnaires' disease in Scotland: surveillance report 2024.
02 / ENFORCEMENT
Prosecutions tracked in Scotland
The tracker holds 3 legionella prosecutions from Scotland, totalling £198k in fines (2011–2016).
| Defendant | Year | Sector | Fine | Prosecutor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BDL Select Operations Ltd Operator of the then-Landmark Hotel in Dundee. A Pontiac fever outbreak from the leisure-club spa pool left 65 people ill (18 confirmed). The spa pool had not been fully drained, cleaned or disinfected for over two months, filter backwashing was neglected, and a failed chlorine injector let bacteria breed. Pleaded guilty on indictment to two HSWA charges and was fined £54,000 at Dundee Sheriff Court in January 2016. No deaths. Prosecuted by COPFS in Scotland. Source
|
2016 | Hospitality | £54k | COPFS |
|
Lanarkshire Health Board (NHS Lanarkshire) A 64-year-old patient at Hartwoodhill Hospital contracted Legionnaires' disease in November 2008. HSE found legionella in three water sources, two (including the shower the patient used daily) matching her strain, and established that no suitable legionella risk assessment or control scheme was in place. The patient survived. Fined £24,000 under HSWA s3(1) at Hamilton Sheriff Court in January 2012. Scottish prosecution (COPFS, HSE investigation). Source
|
2012 | Healthcare | £24k | COPFS |
|
Piperdam Golf & Leisure Resort Limited Death/outbreak Guest Edward Warnes, 60, died after contracting Legionnaires' disease from a hot tub and shower heads in a lodge at the Piperdam golf and leisure resort near Dundee in 2008. Control measures were inadequate and no suitable risk assessment had been carried out. The operating company (registered as Piperdam Golf & Leisure Resort Limited, Companies House SC150138) pleaded guilty at Forfar Sheriff Court in March 2011 to breaching HSWA ss.3(1) and 33(1) and was fined £120,000, reduced from £150,000 for the early plea. Prosecuted by COPFS following an Angus Council investigation. Source
|
2011 | Hospitality | £120k | COPFS |
The full UK record, its curation rules and the per-sector breakdown are on the Legionella Enforcement Tracker; sector views sit under the Index.
03 / WATER HARDNESS
Water hardness in Scotland towns
5 of 22 towns here carry a reported hardness figure; the rest show a band inferred from the water company's own statement, or an honest gap. Every row names its source and confidence. Scale risk uses the DWI/WHO anchor: scaling begins around 200 mg/l CaCO₃.
| Town | Water company | Hardness (mg/l CaCO₃) | Hardness band | Scale risk | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Scottish Water | 12 | Soft | Low | Single source - unverified (MyTapWater) Approximate as reported by the source ("~12"). |
| Ayr | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Coatbridge | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Dumfries | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Dundee | Scottish Water | 20 | Soft | Low | Single source - unverified (MyTapWater) Approximate as reported by the source ("~20"). |
| Dunfermline | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| East Kilbride | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Edinburgh | Scottish Water | ~30 (zones ~15-68) | Soft | Low | Single source - unverified (MyTapWater) Approximate as reported ("~30"); reported zone span ~15-68 mg/l. |
| Falkirk | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Glasgow | Scottish Water | 15 | Soft | Low | Single source - unverified (MyTapWater) Approximate as reported by the source ("~15"). |
| Glenrothes | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Greenock | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Hamilton | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Inverness | Scottish Water | 8 | Soft | Low | Single source - unverified (MyTapWater) Approximate as reported by the source ("~8"). |
| Kilmarnock | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Kirkcaldy | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Livingston | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Motherwell | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Oban | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Paisley | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Perth | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
| Stirling | Scottish Water | — | Soft (~10-50 mg/l) * | Low * | Company statement - band only (Scottish Water) Scottish Water Factsheet 12 describes most supplies as soft to slightly hard; zone values are published only on request. |
* Band or scale risk inferred from the water company's own published statement, not a measured town value. Figures labelled "unverified" come from aggregator sites and should be confirmed against the company's postcode water-quality checker before being relied on. How this dataset is built.
04 / COUNCIL DUTIES
What councils in Scotland ask of landlords
The national legionella duty is the same everywhere; what varies locally is property licensing and whether legionella is written into licence conditions. These verified councils fall in Scotland:
| Council | Nation | Scheme | In force | Legionella in licensing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stirling Council Short-term lets (national licensing scheme, locally administered) "You must assess the risk from exposure to legionella within the premises… You must keep a record… and provide a copy of the risk assessment… to Stirling Council with your licence application." Source document | Scotland | Short-term let licensing | n/a | Explicit licence condition |
| Midlothian Council No licensing scheme; landlord guidance published Publishes a full Legionella Risk Assessment template and guidelines for landlords (self-assessment permitted for simple systems). Source document | Scotland | No licensing scheme | n/a | Guidance / standards only |
Important
This page is general guidance only. Legionella risk varies with the specific water system, its use, and the people exposed to it. You should consult a competent legionella risk assessor for advice on your premises. LegionellaCheck is an independent information service and is not affiliated with HSE, UKAS, the Legionella Control Association, or any water hygiene company. This site does not provide medical advice. If you suspect Legionnaires' disease, contact NHS 111 or your GP.