The pumping of underground minewater is to be resumed in East Durham to protect underground water sources. The pumping was stopped in the mid 1990s when the area's coastal pit closed. The Coal Authority is planning to set up a temporary pumping station at Horden, near Peterlee, to deal with rising mine water levels. This will discharge into the sea from a pipe running from the old shaft at Horden, the water will be treated to avoid pollution of the sea.
In the longer term, the authority plans to build a permanent pumping system for the area. Four sites are being considered for this - Hawthorn, Hawthorn Quarry, Dawdon and Horden.
Separate from the above, a large recurring crack in the carriageway of the A690 road at the top of 'Houghton Cut', Houghton-le-Spring, is said by geologists to be due to the rising levels of underground minewater in the area. A nearby pumping station at the former Nicholson's pit ceased pumping some years ago. The crack in the carriageway extends for quite a distance on either side of the road.
Alan Vickers.
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