North-east stream to undergo water quality improvements

A stream in the north-east of England, which has suffered from years of water pollution, is to be cleaned up thanks to a multi-million pound operation.

The Environment Agency has set aside £2 million to clear up Saltburn Gill, which locals say changed colour overnight on May 18th, 1999, following the closure of a nearby mine in the 1960s.

Not only has the pollution wiped out the river's wildlife, it has left the stream with a rusty orange colour to it, while large amounts of iron oxide have been left on the river bed and banks.

Both the Coal Authority and the Saltburn Gill Action Group have worked alongside the agency to help develop a plan which will see the stream return to a quality coastal water source again.

Dominic Shepherd, regional water quality manager for the Environment Agency, said the plan will restore life in the stream and help it contribute to the sea once again.

"The mine water will be treated to a high quality which will allow the stream to regenerate, bringing life back to the once dead waters," he said.

"The work will be carried out in two phases - first water will be pumped from the old mine workings until the current discharges dry up, which could take a year. When pumping has stabilised groundwater levels, a treatment scheme will be built."

Mr Shepherd added that the project would see iron filtered from the stream before it enters the stream by using a series of ponds.

What's more, he said he was feeling confident about the project, as this method had been used by the Coal Authority in more than 60 different treatment schemes around Britain.

Dr Simon Reed, director of operations for the Coal Authority, said: "We, with our contractors and consultants, will bring our extensive experience in designing, building and operating mine water treatment schemes to bring very real environmental improvements to the community at Saltburn."