Groundwater in former German coal mining areas-a scientific perspective on mine floodings

摘要

At the end of 2018, hard coal mining in Germany was terminated. This date marks the beginning of the post-mining phase, including permanent mine water management in the abandoned coalfields. The post-mining phase typically includes partial mine flooding and the discharge of mine water into nearby receiving water courses. Public and scientific discussions have been focused on the sources of mining pollutants and potential risks for the near-surface drinking water resources. Several criteria and control mechanisms have been developed to identify and prevent potential pollutant discharge. These include modern monitoring programs and model applications that can improve existing predictions of pollutant behavior. In addition, legally and technically supported assessments of hazard scenarios are critical for sustainable risk management. Mine water rebound, however, opens opportunities to convert former mines for energy use. Combined heat and power plants can be operated with mine water and there is a great potential for expansion. This paper reviews opportunities and risks of hard-coal mine flooding in Germany and provides an outlook on what developments and challenges can be expected in the future.