Mine Water Recovery in the Coal Mining District of Aachen - Impacts and Measures to Control Potential Risks

After 800 years of mining activities, coal mining came to an end in the district of Aachen in 1992. Dewatering measures were terminated at the end of 1993/ beginning of 1994. Since then, mine water in the coal mining districts of Aachen and South-Limburg has been allowed to recover in a controlled, step-by-step-manner in order to ultimately achieve natural groundwater conditions. During mine water recovery potential impacts to the ground surface are anticipated and acted upon; it is assumed that within several years following completion of mine water recovery all major impacts of mining activities in the area will have ceased.