From there, it flows northeast though Johnstone, passes Linwood and then under the M8 motorway at Blackstoun, where it is joined by the River Gryfe.

The river then flows parallel with the main runway of Glasgow Airport; passing under the A8 at Renfrew by means of a stone bridge, where it joins the White Cart Water.

The White Cart Water originates on the edge of East Renfrewshire, in the middle of Eaglesham Moor.

It passes under a large railway viaduct before being joined by the Thorntonhall Burn and Kittoch Water, an important tributary and the main river from East Kilbride.

This ends roughly where it crosses the Glasgow city boundary into Linn Park, heading downstream to Cathcart.

From Crookston, the river passes the grounds of Leverndale Hospital and then crosses into Renfrewshire and flows through the farmlands of Hawkhead, parallel with the Paisley Canal railway line.

The Greenock Road (A8), between Inchinnan and Renfrew, passes over the White Cart Water by means of the swing bridge.

Designed by Halcrow the scheme was at the time the largest flood alleviation project undertaken in Scotland.

[5] The abbey/monastery drain linked with the White Cart Water both upstream and downstream of the abbey, near to where the Town Hall now stands.

The Paisley Beer Duties Act 1753 provided for "laying a duty of two pennies Scots, or one sixth part of a penny Sterling, on every Scots Pint of Ale and Beer which shall be brewed for sale, brought into, tapped or sold within the Town of Paisley and Liberties thereof, in the County of Renfrew, for improving the Navigation of the River Cart, and for other Purposes".

[10] The railway was intended to both enhance the capabilities of the River Cart navigation as well as competing against it for goods and passenger traffic.

The first American troops to disembark onto UK soil in the Second World War did so by ship at Carlile Quay in Paisley.

Sir William Arrol and Co also made the pedestrian lifting bridge across the White Cart Water at Carlile Quay (off New Sneddon Street) in 1911.

Apartment buildings and houses have been built on the vacant site adjacent to the quay.As referenced above, the Carlile footbridge was reopened in November 2021.

Around the same time, a new road bridge was being constructed further downstream between Wright Street in Renfrew and Arran Avenue at the Glasgow Airport long stay car park.

It led to complaints from Johnstone, Renfrew and Glasgow and calls by them for Paisley to provide a sewage treatment farm.