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Heath water diviners plan in pollution hunt
Search for hidden pipes blamed for poor water quality
WATER diviners may be used to find hidden drains and pipes believed to be polluting Hampstead Heath’s ponds.
The idea was raised at a meeting of the Heath’s consultative committee on Monday.
Tests on the Heath’s ladies’ and men’s ponds have revealed poor water quality. Ecologists believe part of the pollution may be coming from long-forgotten drains under the Heath. The ladies’ pond failed four consecutive Environment Agency tests.
At Monday’s meeting, Heath superintendent Simon Lee revealed that talks were being held with Thames Water in an attempt to trace the source of the pollution.
A Victorian drain running from Fitzroy Park allotments was recently found. It was discharging a foul-smelling black sludge into the ladies’ pond.
Committee member Jeremy Wright, who represents the Heath and Hampstead Society, suggested employing a water diviner, also known as a dowser. The retired engineer said: “I have seen this being done on building sites to locate pipes. It can work and is worth considering.”
Mr Lee added: “We need to do more work to find out where these pollutants are coming from. We will consider using dowsers as well as working with Thames Water.”
A pond regular is due to be banned from the Heath – the red-eared terrapin.
Ecologists say a colony of about 150 terrapins has been established around the Highgate model boating pond. Heath rangers have designed a trap to catch the terrapins, which will then be flown by the British Chelonia Group, an animal charity, to a sanctuary in Italy.
The traps will catch the terrapins as they bask on aerators in the pond.
The committee heard that terrapins are blamed for killing young birds. By feeding on the bottom of ponds they are stirring up the beds and re-releasing nutrients into the water, causing further ecological damage. Mr Lee added: “We want to raise awareness of the damage they do. It is not responsible to dump unwanted pets on the Heath.”
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