Water Rescue Units (WRUs) provide specialist capabilities to incidents involving inland and coastal water environments. The units are based upon a 4x4 van and trailered Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) to enable effective water rescues. WRU are the level 3 water rescue resource within Scotland and carry a variety of rescue equipment to enable sufficient responses.

WRU crews are trained to a Level 3 water rescue standard, meaning they can utilise a variety of means to perform rescues in water, such as swimming. Teams can also enter the likes of fast-moving water which lower level teams cannot.

While the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has no legislative responsibility to respond, it operates 20 stations equipped with Swift Water Rescue (SWR) resources. WRU are crewed by Swift Water Technicians and Rescue Boat Operators (SRT Team) in a dual-crew model. Generally, rescues require two WRU to respond.