Barrhead News | News | PARENTS WARNED WATER IS CONTAMINATED

Saturday, 22nd November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 28th August, 2008 15:00

PARENTS WARNED WATER IS CONTAMINATED

By Amanda Keenan

ENVIRONMENTAL Health officers are urging Barrhead parents not to let their kids near contaminated water at Rouken Glen Park.

An investigation by East Renfrewshire Council has been launched after dead fish were found in the pound surrounded by mysterious algae.

Staff at the park donned overalls and breathing masks to remove the bodies of several fish spotted floating on the surface.

And as the clean-up began, council experts and staff from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency took water samples to see whether the fish have been poisoned.

Now parents are being advised to keep their kids and pets away from the pond until the cause is discovered.

Engineers at the site are opening valves in a bid to flush out any possible toxins in the water and boost oxygen levels. They hope to prevent the deaths of more fish in the pond which is normally well stocked with perch.

One theory being considered is that the deaths are linked to recent heavy rains that flooded homes and businesses in the area.

The burn which fills the pond is fed by water from farms and golf courses and there are fears a toxic chemical may have been introduced to the waterway after being used on nearby land.

Another possibility is that oxygen levels in the pond dropped, which could account for the thousands of minnows forced to swim at the surface.

Dog walkers in the park noticed the smell of rotting fish from the pond while a different sour smell was evident at the waterfall near the spot.

A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said: “Council staff are working with SEPA to look at the environment in the pond and establish what has killed these fish.

“We would ask anyone visiting the park to report any concerns to the park rangers.”

A SEPA spokeswoman said: “Samples of water, algae and fish have been collected for analysis by SEPA to try to determine what the cause is.”

She urged any member of the public who suspected that a waterway had been polluted to call the agency on 0800 80 70 60.

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