The Coal Authority Successful case study in dealing with this serious issue ‘Saltburn Gill is a narrow stream in a wooded valley in the area of East Cleveland, England. In 1999 a large, iron-rich mine water outbreak occurred which polluted Saltburn Gill and Skelton Beck, as well as discolouring a popular surfing beach. Following initial work by the local Saltburn Gill Action Group and the Environment Agency, the Coal Authority was invited to help develop and build a mine water treatment scheme in the area, which removes the iron contamination before it is discharged as clean water into the Saltburn Gill. Click here to read more

Fish find shows mine water scheme is reaping rewards

Environment Agency surveys at Saltburn-by-the-Sea indicate mine water treatment scheme is helping restore a once heavily polluted Gill. Trout found at Saltburn Gill. There’s early indications that a mine water treatment scheme is reaping rewards after lots of fish were found in a once heavily polluted bright orange watercourse in Saltburn-by-the-Sea. During recent Environment Agency monitoring surveys at Saltburn Gill the water was running clear and fish stocks – including juvenile brown trout, bullheads and a juvenile flounder – were spotted. The encouraging signs come just months after the new Saltburn mine water treatment scheme was officially opened on 1 July. The £3.6million scheme was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and was carefully designed by Coal Authority experts, in partnership with the Environment Agency and Defra, to address pollution problems caused by historic mining operations. It started operating during 2015. Click here to read more