Groundwater Rebound in the Leicestershire Coalfield

The Leicestershire coalfield has been mined for at least eight hundred years, the last deep mine closing in 1991. The earliest shallow mines on the exposed coalfield are not recorded on plan, but were later connected to the deeper workings in many seams. In order to protect the last deep mines, pumping was maintained from the abandoned mines to the north. Water‐table rebound was observed prior to closure, and is now affecting the surface. Increased emissions of poor‐quality water into low‐discharge surface water‐courses are predicted. Renewed subsidence has implications for roads, services and property. Rising water levels will affect old opencast excavations and waste disposal sites. Fieldwork and abandoned mine plan inspections have demonstrated renewed subsidence and evidence of increased emissions in those low‐lying areas of the exposed coalfield which are believed to be most at risk.