There is limited information about the water quality of the canal available as follows:
This map displays the union canal as a line running from west to east (left to right). Other waterways can also be seen. Click the 'view waterway classification data' button and then select a waterway to view results (see also below) for 2006. Colour/quality scale works as follows: A1 is blue, A2 is green, B is yellow, C is orange, D is red - more details and important notes about the classification system are below.
IMPORTANT NOTES
In interpreting these results it seems very important to note that SEPA say:
SEPA's remit is for environmental protection thus our monitoring in the canal is geared to this end and thus not directly to human health matters. [This] is true in general e.g. for canals [although] there are cases, such as SEPA's monitoring of designated bathing waters, where there is a human health reason for the monitoring.
and in regard to the specific results given on this map…
Where there is a blank or an asterisk no classification data was collected for that particular parameter. The overall classification is determined only from parameters for which data has been collected.
The tests resulting in the classifications given for the four stretches of canal below do not seem to have included tests on 'biology' or for 'toxic substances'. They seem to be based on tests for 'dissolved oxygen', 'biochemical oxygen demand', 'ammonia', 'aesthetics', 'nutrients', and on 'pH'. The SEPA website contains a document giving information about the SEPA classification system.
Specific results
More information:
In regard to more up to date testing and classification SEPA say (6 Aug 08):
"2006 was the last year of SEPA's 'original' classification system and in 2007 SEPA moved over to a classification system that meets the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (http://www.sepa.org.uk/wfd/). In moving to the new system SEPA had to change its monitoring network. In the case of many rivers and canals, for instance, individual stretches monitored under the old classification system (now know as water bodies) are often not the same within the new classification system being either different in extent and/or monitored at different points. This means for the most part that it will be difficult to compare the two classification systems."
"Moving to the new classification is a large task due to its extra requirements and a full comprehensive classification will not be available for some water bodies for a year or two due to the need to collect some of the data over a certain time period. For canals, although data is being collected, the initial classification for canal water bodies will not, unfortunately, be available until 2009."
The following links may also be useful:
- Information about the new WFD classification to be used by SEPA
- SEPA are the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (link to their home page)
See also:
