Excavation go-ahead in bid to bring back ancient Angus well

KEPTIE FRIENDS: Group hopes to use water to tackle algae problem in pond

Angus volunteers working to bring an ancient well back into use have been given the go-ahead to excavate.

Keptie Friends, which is a sub-group of Arbroath in Bloom, will take another small step forward when they dig a shallow trench.

Until 1908 the Nolt Loan Well provided Arbroath with its only public water supply, and Keptie Friends want to bring it back into use to curb the algae problem that blights Keptie Pond every year.

Today they will undertake the shallow excavation required to expose the well rim, assess the condition of brickwork, and afterwards restore the area.

Volunteer George Park said: “Colin Hunter and I went to the suspected well location at Nolt Loan, armed with a battery powered drill and a three feet long drill bit.

“Holes were drilled, over our target area in a straight line at three-inch centres.

“The bit sunk effortlessly full depth where only soil was encountered but only sunk around 10-12 inches when the suspected rim was encountered.

“We plotted the curvature of the suspected rim over a distance of approximately five feet and we are 99% sure that this is the location but visual confirmation is now needed.

“We now have consent to excavate a shallow trench four feet long, two feet wide and up to 18 inches deep following a risk assessment.

“We also hope to video the moment when the first brick sees the light of day for the first time in 107 years.”

Keptie Friends want to reuse the supply — which seeps its unhindered way to the sea — to tackle the unsightly scum which blooms on Keptie Pond in warm temperatures.

The pond leaks at an average of 22,000 gallons per day . When levels are low in summer, water temperatures rise and, when high nutrient levels are present, algae flourishes.

The problem is tackled by diluting nutrient levels by maintaining a high water level and a throughput of fresh water.

However, mains water comes at an unsustainable cost.

Before an engineering design can be formulated, it is necessary to determine the condition of the infilled well.

Subject to a satisfactory survey, it would be the group’s intention to raise funding for the excavation of the well, and for the installation of a power supply, underground pump station, and associated pipework.

We hope to video the moment when the first brick sees the light of day for the first time in 107 years. GEORGE PARK

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. George Park, Donald Morrison, Jean Stewart, Maureen Beattie and Morag Lindsay near the site of the Nolt Loan Well. There are hopes it can be brought back into use.