Taff minewater given clear bill of health

The Taff Merthyr Minewater Treatment Scheme is one of the largest examples

of environmentally sustainable remediation of polluted minewater. The project

is located on the site of the former colliery, where minewater was discharging

directly into the local river. The scheme now needs a minimum of operation and

maintenance. It has improved the overall water quality standard of the waterway

and promotes the growth of local wildlife within and around the river. Downstream,

a separate project has also been completed to provide canoe and sport facilities.

This scheme is such a success largely because of the improvement in river water

quality, resulting from the minewater treatment scheme.

The minewater emanating from the disused coalmine contains the characteristic

red iron ochre. Treatment comprises five streams of tiered reedbeds, each preceded

by a settlement lagoon. Minewater is collected and directed via a pumping station

to the settlement lagoons, that retain the minewater for a minimum of 24 hours.

At this stage a large amount of the iron ochre drops out of solution and settles.

The subsequent reedbeds then act as a final polishing system to further reduce

the iron ochre content.

The reedbeds were created on the cleared site and are earth-bottomed ponds

with earth bunds at the edges. A concrete wier controls the minewater entry

and exit to the reedbed and evenly diverts the water from the previous reedbed/settlement

lagoons, and then into the next bed. This prevents short-circuiting of the system,

maximising the settlement, retention time and efficiency of the reeds. The concrete

weirs incorporate a cascade to aerate the minewater. This action encourages

the iron to fall out of solution.

As the reeds become established, the quality of the resultant river water will

improve still further. At the maximum expected deposition rates of the iron

ochre within the reedbed, the settlement lagoons will need to be cleaned every

five years. While

each reed bed is expected to continue to function well for up to 25 years, before

it is replaced.