Burst Water Pipe Disrupts Main Library

Around midday on 27 October 2025, the University’s Main Library made an announcement over the tannoy, advising students that the water supply had been shut off and that all bathrooms were closed. 

This announcement followed an Instagram post on the Library’s official account earlier in the morning around 9am, alerting students to a burst water pipe outside the main building. The caption established that the Main Library was open as usual, but advised students to consider taking the Butts Wynd passage to the Library, as the main passageway from North Street was extremely wet and showed signs of significant water leakage.

In addition, the Library’s post informed students that alternative toilet facilities were available in the Butts Wynd Building or the Arts Building, as there was no clear timeline for when the Library’s own toilets would be available again for student use.

A spokesperson for the University informed The Saint that library staff initially “became aware of a burst water pipe outside the Main Library building over the weekend, which [they] reported to colleagues in the Security and Response team.”

Scottish Water services working outside the Main Library

By early afternoon, the North Street passage to the Library was shut off entirely, as Scottish Water, the University’s repair service, arrived on site to “investigate and carry out remedial works.” The spokesperson explained that the University was dependent on Scottish Water for further information on the status of the burst pipe, saying that they were “unable to determine” whether or not the incident would affect the Main Library’s hours of operation.

This most recent complication follows a series of issues with the Library’s toilets that have occurred throughout the semester. The University’s spokesperson remarked that these recurrent issues were due to the “high level of use of facilities in the library, which resulted in temporary blockages and flooding,” adding that, “estates are investigating whether there are improvements that could be made to minimise these [toilet issues], but some level of ongoing issue is to be expected in a building that is so heavily used.”

At approximately 1:45pm, a follow-up announcement was made over the tannoy, alerting students the toilets had been reopened and the water switched back on. A subsequent Instagram post was put out on the Library’s account, stating that repairs on the burst water pipe had been completed to the point that water had been restored to the building. However, Scottish Water remained on site to continue further repairs.

The North Street passageway to the library also remained shut, blocked off to allow Scottish Water to continue their work. However, the Library maintained its normal hours of operation throughout the disturbance, thanking students for their patience and advising them to take care around the front of the building as Scottish Water remained on site.

Images by Reese Colbert