Preventing pollution within the mining block

During mining, significant effort was put into the management of mine water to prevent flooding in the underground workings. As mines were abandoned, the pumps were turned off and the water levels began to recover, or rebound, rising toward the surface. Without interventions mine water levels will eventually recover to a position where they could discharge to surface at low points. Where mine workings are close to, or overlain by, aquifers, the recovered mine water has potential to migrate or be drawn into the aquifers. This could impact the water supply with iron and/or salts.

Diagram showing how ochre is created within mine workings.

The scheme at Thorpe Hesley will aid managing rising mine waters by preventing surface discharges to streams and rivers in the area and the wider block. The scheme will also reduce flows of mine water to deeper workings to the south that could impact on aquifers (source of drinking water).

By implementing the mine water treatment scheme at Thorpe Hesley, more of the mine water can also be treated before reaching the deeper workings to the south, at a lower cost to the taxpayer and with less environmental impact.