Our ‘30 Projects for 30 Years’ series celebrates the infrastructure delivered by CECA members over the past three decades. This profile features Southbay Civil Engineering’s specialist marine works at the Dawdon Mine Water Treatment Scheme on the County Durham coast.
The treatment scheme manages the environmental legacy of former collieries, processing more than two billion litres of mine water each year. It helps protect an underground aquifer used to supply drinking water to around 30,000 people, with treated water discharged safely offshore through two sea outfall pipes.
Appointed by the Coal Authority, Southbay Civil Engineering delivered an approximately £800,000 project to refurbish the two existing outfall structures while maintaining the treatment facility’s operation. Working in an exposed and highly tidal environment, the team used a jack-up barge, a 100-tonne crawler crane and specialist divers to replace damaged structures and secure the new pipework.
Despite challenging sea and weather conditions, the works were completed to programme, with no reportable incidents and minimal disruption to the treatment scheme. The project demonstrates the specialist expertise CECA members bring to maintaining essential infrastructure and protecting the environment.
Read the full project profile below.