The White Cart Water has inflicted misery to residents and businesses in the south side of Glasgow over many decades. There have been numerous significant flood events over the last 25 years with several hours of heavy rainfall causing river levels to increase rapidly.

Glasgow City Council has promoted a flood prevention scheme for the White Cart Water and its tributary the Auldhouse Burn. The Scottish Ministers approved the flood prevention scheme in 2006 and the first two construction phases are now underway.