Plans Advance To Investigate Whitehaven Harbour’s Orange Water
Plans are being developed for a detailed ground investigation at Whitehaven Harbour as authorities continue efforts to tackle the recurring orange water that has affected the area after periods of heavy rainfall.
The Mining Remediation Authority has submitted an application to Cumberland Council for listed building consent to carry out temporary investigative work along the harbour’s north wall. The work is intended to establish whether the historic harbour structure can support a proposed system to divert the discoloured water away from the harbour.
Whitehaven Harbour’s water has periodically turned bright orange since November 2022. Investigations have established that the discoloured water enters Queen’s Dock through a culvert connected to the drainage system of the Bransty rail tunnel. Tests have found iron ochre in floodwater from the tunnel, a substance associated with historic mining activity.
The proposed investigation would involve four horizontal cores in the harbour wall, seven boreholes and several trial pits, with the temporary work expected to take around eight weeks. Engineers would use drilling equipment to examine the structure and recover samples from the underlying ground and rock, helping determine whether a future diversion pipeline can be safely installed.
The investigation requires special permission because parts of the harbour wall are Grade II listed structures. The historic walls date through several phases of construction from the 18th century onwards and are recognised for their architectural and historical importance to Whitehaven. The proposed work would be temporary and would be reversed after the investigation is completed.
The orange discolouration has become both an environmental and visual concern for the town. The affected water can stain harbour structures and vessels, while the unusual colour has also altered the appearance of the Whitehaven Town Centre Conservation Area. The colour can vary depending on rainfall and tidal conditions, with the harbour sometimes returning to a more normal appearance.
A longer term proposal has already been considered by the Whitehaven Harbour Taskforce, chaired by Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister. The proposed solution would involve diverting the contaminated water through a new pipe along the harbour and releasing it at the north shore. Funding of around £4 million is being sought to deliver the scheme.
The latest ground investigation could therefore provide important information for determining whether the proposed diversion system is structurally feasible. Authorities hope the work will help move the project closer to a permanent solution for the long running problem affecting Whitehaven Harbour.
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