Written question asked by Joan Ruddock (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 April 1996. It was answered by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 April 1996 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: What treatment methods other than pumping are currently in use to deal with polluted minewater from abandoned mines where each is in use; how long it has been in use; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness.

Answer: Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what treatment methods other than pumping are currently in use to deal with polluted minewater from abandoned mines where each is in use; how long it has been in use; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness.[24803] Mr. Clappison: There are around 10 small-scale pilot treatment projects in England and Wales, which use chemical and physical methods to treat minewaters. These include those on the River Pelenna in south Wales, at Woolley colliery near Barnsley, and at the Wheal Jane tin mine in Cornwall. The Coal Authority is also looking at best practice in the use of treatment methods. The Environment Agency routinely monitors the principal; discharges from these treatment projects, but is too early to make a precise assessment of the effectiveness of the methods used.

Secondary information