Skewen mine water management scheme begins build
The Coal Authority project will ensure excess mine water from prolonged rainfall is collected to keep properties safe.
Following ground investigation and design work, The Coal Authority has begun construction of a new mine water management scheme at Skewen in Wales, UK.
The project will provide a new, permanent route for water from nearby mine workings and is intended to collect excess mine water from prolonged rainfall. It will comprise of new boreholes and a concrete capture structure to collect and route the mine water into a new culvert.
The system, including real time telemetry monitoring, was designed in consultation with residents and partner organisations including Neath Port Talbot Council and Natural Resources Wales.
Coal Authority investigations recently concluded that extensive, additional engineering is needed to stabilise the ground around the blowout to provide the necessary foundations for the new pipe work and mine water capture structure, because of unique geology discovered on site. Additionally, gas, electricity, water and telephone utilities have been relocated.
Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The project follows a flooding incident in January this year and as a result of this incident teams remain on site daily and water levels in the mine system are continually monitored in real time. In addition, a high-capacity water pump remains on standby for use by the Coal Authority as an extra safeguard.
