Telemetry Upgrades, Crinan and Caledonian Canals

Scottish Canals is responsible for controlling water levels and water quality on its network as well as ensuring that waterways are accessible and navigable.  

To manage water levels, we have operations teams across the network who inspect each canal daily and adjust the flows of water in and out of them to maintain a steady level. In recent years, we have started to integrate remote monitoring technology into our water control procedures to improve responsiveness, accuracy of controls, and operational efficiency.  

We are now enhancing the existing remote monitoring network on the Crinan and Caledonian canals. In the coming months, our contractor Fairfield Control Systems will install additional water level monitors at key locations.  

This secure and robust monitoring system ensures that our canals are equipped for more frequent and more extreme weather events as the climate changes.  

It allows our operations teams to: 

• Receive ongoing water level information to monitor the canal levels, improving the timeliness and accuracy of interventions and minimising disruption to users. 
• Reduce the need to travel at night, during severe weather conditions, and to less accessible locations to physically monitor water levels in the canals. 

Information for residents and visitors 

There is not expected to be any impact from this work on navigation or access to walking and cycling routes. We will post any changes to this information here and on our Ongoing Works page. 

If you would like more information, please contact enquiries@scottishcanals.co.uk or call us on 0141 332 6936 (lines are open Monday to Thursday 8.30am-5pm and Friday 8.30am -4.30pm).