RAG AG, Essen, GERMANY - World Heritage Site Zollverein - Modification of a Central Mine Drainage Station to Backup Site for Eternity

Currently at Zollverein's main drainage station underground installed pumps are under operation. The underground pumping station is installed on the 14th level, which is approximately -950 m asl. The water quantity which had to be pumped on average during the last five years amounted to 12.4 m³/min. The mine water is pumped through two standpipes with 500 mm diameter installed in Zollverein 2 shaft to the surface and further to Emscher river which is used as an open sewage duct. Thereby, the water containing sulphate coming from the southern area (approx. 7.5 m³/min) and the barium-containing water coming from the northern area (approx. 4.9 m³/min) are pumped separately.

The two shafts Zollverein 2 and Zollverein XII have to be modified into wells as dewatering backup sites by using cladding tubes in Zollverein 2 and a concrete advancing column in Zollverein XII when in 2020 the current dewatering discharge authorization into the Emscher expires. Both cladding and well tube should reach up to a depth of 650 m.

Activity performed: 

• Project Management on World Heritage Site Zollverein - Modification of a Central Mine Drainage Station to Backup Site for Eternity (Planning and Construction)