Monikie Park

The history of the Park.
Dundee's first clean water. The supply of fresh, clean water for both domestic customers and industry is today often taken for granted. However, in the early 19th Century Dundee's townsfolk had to depend on pump wells and water carts for their water supply.

Disease spread easily because of the often, appalling living conditions of most of the population, not helped by the poor, often contaminated, condition of the water. The rapid growth of industries, such as the jute mills, also meant that the water requirements were insufficient for their needs. The influx of a great number of workers to the town also increased the demands on the existing system of the supply of water.

The Monikie Reservoirs. In 1836 a water consultant, George Buchanan, was sent to explore the possibility of constructing a reservoir that could supply the City of Dundee with water. The catchment area that he looked at was an area of high ground, within the parish of Monikie, about 8 miles north-east of Dundee. After the survey, Buchanan advised against the project. His verdict was, that although the water was of excellent quality, the Monikie Burn would provide an insufficient supply of water. The local millers agreed, as the plan, if implemented, would draw away their water. Opposition also came from the Dundee water caddies who sold water from carts.