Fears for environmental impact of polluted water in Whitehaven harbour

The discoloured water began entering the harbour from a culvert in Queens Dock at the end of last year and investigations into the cause have been ongoing.

Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners are now “reasonably confident” that the water is connected to historic mining and are working alongside the council, Network Rail, The Coal Authority and The Environment Agency, to resolve the issue.

Professor Harvey Wood, director of the Clean Rivers Trust, who visited Whitehaven last week, fears it could take years to find a long term solution.

Prof Wood, who has previously studied mine water movement under Whitehaven, said: “I’m concerned for Whitehaven and the harbour itself. It’s the main attraction in the town now.

“My main concern is whatever happens, the actual problem has got to be dealt with to get the water out of the harbour.

“The long-term solution of mine water treatment will probably take several years to put in place.

“There are two options – either to put it to the sewage treatment works, which will probably be expensive, or to take it down by the old route of the beck which went out to the sea by the side of the harbour.”

Professor Harvey Wood at Whitehaven Harbour (Image: Submitted)

Prof Wood said he was concerned about the long-term environmental impact.

“Anything that’s alive in the harbour, which is food for the swans and fish, will have died as well. Environmentally, it’s a horrible thing that’s happening. There’s an eco-system in the harbour that’s being killed.

“It’s one of the worst pollutions for the public to see. You don’t often get something so visible in the centre of the town.

“The hulls of the boats and yachts are staining which costs money to deal with. This is the problem with mine water - it coats everything.

“It really needs to be dealt with for Whitehaven’s sake. The local economy is likely to suffer. It needs action.”

John Baker, CEO of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners said: “The marina team are keeping the berth holders informed of what’s going on.

“There’s no clear feedback from berth holders that there are major concerns, from our own personal dealings with the berth holders and seeing them taking the boats out and washing them down.

“However, longer term that may change so it’s in all of our best interests to get it fixed and stop it coming into the harbour.

“We are working closely with the Environment Agency and there’s nothing been raised by them to suggest any serious concern [for wildlife].

“It’s in everybody’s best interests to get it sorted and we’re desperately trying to get those organisations to come up with a solution.”

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.”