Annick Water

Annick Water
The Annick Water near Cunninghamhead mill
Location
Country	Scotland
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Long Loch (East Renfrewshire)
Mouth	River Irvine
• location	Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
• coordinates	55°36′14″N 4°39′40″W / 55.60393°N 4.66110°W / 55.60393; -4.66110

The Annick Water (previously also spelled as Annack, Annoch (1791) or Annock) is the largest tributary of the River Irvine. The river runs from Long Loch, just inside East Renfrewshire, in a generally south-western direction through North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire, to confluence with its parent river at Irvine, North Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. The name may derive from the Gaelic for 'overflowing'^[1] and Strathannick is very much prone to flooding as recorded by SEPA.

The water now (2006) appears to be pollution free for most of its length. An independent survey in the Bourtreehill (1999) area revealed a strong colony of freshwater shrimp, a crustacean known only to live in relatively clean water.

On 27 January 2009 a BP tanker train carrying liquid fuels (diesel and heating oil) from Mossend to Riccarton was derailed near the bridge over the Stewarton to Kilmaurs road at Peacockbank Farm. Several wagons subsequently caught fire.^[2] The Annick Water was polluted, however, it escaped major contamination.