Water supply issues at Scotland's largest prison have been resolved following nearly three days of disruption that left inmates at two halls unable to run taps or flush toilets. The crisis at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow began on Thursday night, with some prisoners initially receiving no access to bottled water. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) confirmed on Monday that water was running again across the facility.
Inmates first encountered the problem late on Thursday evening, and by Friday the SPS indicated the situation would persist through the weekend. Visitors to the jail reported mounting laundry and described conditions that made basic hygiene impossible. An SPS spokesperson stated:
Staff have worked tirelessly throughout the weekend and we are grateful to them and to those in our care for their understanding.
The water pressure dropped at 16:00 on Thursday, prompting the prison to alert Scottish Water. However, Scottish Water confirmed the local network had no problems, identifying the issue as internal to the prison's infrastructure. The SPS later explained that Barlinnie's age meant its water tanks took considerable time to refill after the interruption, requiring shower access to be managed while levels recovered.
How did inmates cope during the disruption?
Prisoners were initially given flavoured water before being supplied with two-litre bottles. According to STV reporting, the prison took delivery of a further 2,000 two-litre bottles of water and distributed them to affected prisoners. One visitor described the situation as unacceptable, saying:
It is ridiculous. It really should not be happening in this day and age.
Inmates had been unable to shower since Thursday night. One woman reported that her relative had no water at all on Friday. Visits continued throughout the crisis, but visitors were asked not to use the toilets—a particularly difficult restriction for mothers bringing children into the facility. The SPS noted that no prisoner requests for bottled water were received overnight on Friday, though supplies were distributed regardless.
What is the history of Barlinnie Prison?
HMP Barlinnie opened in 1882 following the Prison Act of 1877, which nationalised Scotland's prison system. Construction began in 1880, making it the first new prison built in Scotland after nationalisation. The facility's late 19th and early 20th century sections were recognised by Historic Environment Scotland last year as a Category A-listed building, acknowledging its outstanding social historical interest.
The prison gained notoriety for its harsh conditions, where inmates performed hard labour breaking rocks from a local quarry. Between 1946 and 1960, ten men were executed by hanging at Barlinnie, making it a site of capital punishment in Scotland. In recent decades, the facility has struggled with persistent overcrowding issues.
What are plans for the future?
The Scottish government has committed to replacing Barlinnie with a new facility. Construction of the replacement prison is currently underway and is scheduled for completion in 2028 at a cost of nearly £1 billion. This investment reflects ongoing concerns about the aging infrastructure and capacity constraints at the current site.
Key Facts:
- Water supply problems began on Thursday night and affected two halls at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow
- The issue was identified as internal to the prison's infrastructure, not a problem with Scottish Water's local network
- Prisoners received bottled water supplies, with 2,000 additional two-litre bottles distributed during the crisis
- The prison's age meant water tanks required extended time to refill after the pressure drop
- A new £1 billion replacement prison is under construction and due to open in 2028
