Auto Waster
Highlands and Islands
Just West of Ardrishaig is an ingenious solution to the area's water control problem; a unique device located on the canal bank between Lock 4 and Oakfield, built in 1895 by John Groves to regulate the level of the pound between Ardrishaig and Cairnbaan.
The system consists of two large buckets suspended on a 'rocker' arm; there is a channel cut through the canal bank into the building and as soon as the water level rises, the water floods the first bucket, making it heavy which in turn pulls down on the rocker and raises the second bucket which is rather like a huge bath plug in the canal bank.
Once lifted, the water cascades under the road and safely out to the sea, 9.8m (32ft) below. As the canal level falls the water flow into the Waster also reduces. The first bucket has a small hole to allow it to empty, thus as it becomes lighter, the second bucket is lowered and seals the canal again. Simple and effective - it has to be! When in full flood, the water flow can reach some 197 tonnes per minute!
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