Media Release

CA/MR 2005/06 - 27 June 2005

MINEWATER IN EAST DURHAM

The Coal Authority is to carry out a wide ranging consultation of its proposals for managing minewater in East Durham.

Minewater has been rising since the last pits closed in County Durhamin 1993. If the minewater is allowed to continue to rise in an uncontrolled manner it will result in serious contamination of the Durham aquifer as well as the River Wear and the coastal areas of East Durham. The aquifer provides a significant amount of the local drinking water supply and its contamination, along with the local watercourses, must be prevented.

In 2004 the Authority constructed a new active minewater treatment plant on the former colliery site at Horden. This was designed as a temporary measure to protect the underground water supply while a permanent solution was finalised.

The Authority in conjunction with Local Authorities, the Environment Agency and other interested parties is working to develop a long term strategy to protect the drinking water supply and local watercourses.

A series of studies has been undertaken in order to identify the optimum long term location to control minewater in East Durham. The studies have established that two separate sites would minimise the risk of underground collapses isolating one treatment location, thereby making it ineffective.

Horden and Dawdon have been identified as the two most suitable locations to site permanent minewater treatment facilities. The Authority proposes that a new passive treatment system, utilising settlement ponds and reed beds, be built at Horden. Once this is established the existing active treatment plant at Horden will be moved to one of the business parks adjacent to the former Dawdon Colliery at Seaham. This combination will then provide a robust and flexible long term solution for the ongoing management of minewater in East Durham. The designs for the treatment facilities will be developed to ensure that they are sympathetic to the local environment and adjacent buildings.

The precise location and design of the facilities at Horden and Dawdon have not yet been finalised. The Authority is consulting widely on the options available at each location.

In order to explain these proposals more fully the Coal Authority will hold an open day between 10am and 7pm, to be followed by an open forum between 7pm and 9pm at the following locations.

• 12^th July 2005 - The Social Welfare Centre, Horden, SR84LX
• 13th July 2005 - The Glebe Centre, Durham Place, Murton, SR79BX
• 14th July 2005 - Dawdon Social Welfare Centre, Mount Stewart Street, Seaham, SR7 7NA

END

Notes for Editors

The Authority, located at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was established under the Coal Industry Act 1994, with responsibility for four principal functions: Licensing coal-mining operations; subsidence damage claims which are not the responsibility of the privatised successor companies or other licensed operators; dealing with property and historic liabilities such as old shafts and minewater pumping; and providing public access to information on coal-mining operations past and present.

The Coal Authority is carrying out a national prevention and remediation programme to deal with pollution from abandoned coal mines. To date the programme has delivered over 34 schemes throughout the coalfield areas of Great Britainwhich have provided major environmental improvements to in excess of 60Km of the nation's rivers.

Similar 'preventive' schemes have been implemented at Whittle Colliery and Bates Colliery, both in Northumberland, to prevent future pollution from occurring.

MEDIA CONTACT:

John Delaney
Corporate Affairs Manager

Tel: 01623 427162
Fax: 01623 427316
Email: johndelaney@coal.gov.uk