Woolley, West Yorkshire

View of the 14,000 m² wetland. In 1995 this was the first major wetland engineered for the treatment of minewater. The wetland contained a variety of plants to ascertain the most suitable for use in minewater treatment; Iris were included to enhance the appearance of the treatment system.

The wetland does not include any imported media or impermeable liner and consequently was constructed at a minimal cost. The system has required minimal attention since 1995 and has consistently produced a discharge containing 1 mg/l total iron.

The system was design to clarify 200 litres/sec of minewater containing up to 80 mg/l total iron. De-sludging facilities and drying beds for excavated ochre form part of the scheme. The pumping facility controls underground minewater levels over a large area of West Yorkshire. It prevents uncontrolled overflows from several abandoned mine adits and reduces water levels in the area of the Coal Mining Museum at Caphouse.

The treatment of pumped Minewater at Woolley Colliery, West Yorkshire by D M Laine CIWEM - Journal Volume 13, No. 2, April 1999.