A rare phenomena underneath an Aberdeen field transformed a section of turf into a “water bed” yesterday.
Dog walkers were left confused after spotting part of the Sport Aberdeen football pitches behind Hazlehead Park wobbling around like a liquid after a water main burst beneath the ground.
The leak caused an unusual effect, which made the site ripple and move underfoot.
Professor John Howell, a geoscientist at Aberdeen University, said: “If there is water leaking underground the pressure builds up and the turf layer can become detached from the soil below.
“Because the turf is matted together, it forms an impervious layer and behaves like a water bed.
“This phenomena is rare but when it occurs it’s normally in parks, golf courses or lawns, where the turf is not so well bound to the underlying soil.”
Hazlehead Councillor Martin Greig said: “This is possibly another case of the underground drainage system failing.
“The field, the park and the golf course nearby have a history of flooding problems.
“The infrastructure needs to be investigated as a matter of urgency.
“This is a really worrying incident. A great deal of effort has been made to attract more visitors to Hazlehead so this kind of potential hazard is really unwelcome.
“Risks and dangers will discourage visitors so it is crucial to have the ground inspected and made secure without delay.”
Scottish Water engineers have already fixed the issue, and the area will remain cordoned off this weekend to allow the land to dry out.
A spokesman for Scottish Water said: “Scottish Water staff attended the football pitches beside Hazlehead Park as soon as they were made aware of the potential issue in the area.
“A team cordoned off the area and discovered a burst to a main.
“The water supply was isolated to allow repairs, but there was no disruption to customer supplies.
“Repairs have now been completed to the main and the area has been backfilled.
“Scottish Water would like to urge members of the public to contact us as soon as possible if they notice any water-related issues in the communities so we can deal with them as quickly as possible.”