Park loch in the pink for study

The loch at Strathclyde Country Park is set to go pink this week as part of a scientific study.

Scottish Water, assisted by North Lanarkshire Council and supported by SEPA, will be carrying out work to understand how contaminants are carried into the loch from the South Calder Water.

As part of this study, a pink dye will be placed in the river upstream from where it enters the loch, and it will be regularly monitored over the following 24 hours using samplers, which will be placed on rafts. A series of five such tests is planned.

A drone will also fly over the Loch to record images of the movement of the dye.

Scottish Water has advised that the dye is harmless and will disappear gradually over a few days from the water. However, the public may notice a discolouration in the water in some areas of the Loch, particularly around the South Calder Water inlet on the east shore.

For this reason, fishing will be restricted during the testing and dog owners are advised not to let their pets swim in the Loch. Appropriate notices will be placed around the Loch to inform visitors of the testing.

Adrian Proctor, project manager within Scottish Water’s studies department, said: “This is a really important study to help us better understand the water flow within Strathclyde Loch. We’d like to reassure the public that the tracer dyes being used for the study are environmentally safe and there’s no reason to be alarmed if anyone notices any change in the colour of the water.”

The overall study will monitor how contaminants enter the South Calder Water and how they then behave within Strathclyde Loch. This will inform where improvements could be made both to Scottish Water and other assets, and to how the water flow around the Loch could be managed in future to minimise the effects on the swimming area in the south end of the Loch.

The work is expected to start during the week beginning March 5 and take place during March and the first part of April.

Since it is weatherdependent, exact dates will be confirmed nearer the time.