Investigations reveal cause of discoloured water in Whitehaven harbour

Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners are now “reasonably confident” that the water is connected to historic mining.

The water is coming from Bransty Beck and the point of entry of the pollution has now been identified, following further investigations by the Coal Authority.

Network Rail say ground surveys are now taking place on the land above a railway tunnel which takes the Cumbrian Coast line under the town.

John Baker, CEO of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, said: “We identified one source of where the polluted water was coming into the harbour.

“The Coal Authority carried out further investigations to see if there were any points, going all the way up Bransty, of any potential sources of this water, which we believe to be mine water.

“Those investigations revealed not, so we know there is a single point where that polluted water is coming into the beck.

“With reasonable confidence, we believe it to be mine-connected water. It is historical. It’s probably going to be a bit of a challenge identifying exactly which one has been disturbed and what has happened to cause this.

“What we do know is where that water is going and coming to the harbour. Now we know that, we can work towards stopping that water getting to us.”

Mr Baker said the organisations involved now face the challenge of identifying the source of where the pollution is originating from.

He said: “There are so many old mine workings on that side of the harbour, coming all the way down the hill. There has been an event or something happening that has made the water polluted.

“The progress is we now know how that water is coming into the harbour. It doesn’t identify the original source but it does identify where it’s coming in and from.

The contaminated water is entering the harbour from a culvert in Queens Dock (Image: Newsquest)

“We understand a lot more about the geology and how things are working underground. There are some real positives from that.

“Our next step, working with those partner organisations, is finding an alternative way for that polluted water to go elsewhere, rather than having to come into the harbour.

“It is quite a significant step. I can’t give a timescale as to when there will be a resolution but once that water can be diverted, we believe the water will turn back to normal pretty quickly – within a couple of weeks.

“We have got to now work hard with the partners to see how that can be achieved. That may still take some time.”

Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners are working alongside the council, Network Rail, The Coal Authority and The Environment Agency, to find a solution to the problem.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Our teams are continuing to help investigate the exact source of the water discolouration in Whitehaven harbour.

“This involves ongoing technical surveys of groundwater conditions in the land above a railway tunnel which takes the Cumbrian Coast line under the town.

“When these tests are complete, we will share the information with the council and other agencies to help get to the bottom of where the discoloured water is coming from.”