Introduction

It has long been recognised that surface mineral extraction can adversely affect the quality, levels and flow characteristics of both groundwater and surface water. These effects can be more wide-reaching than most other environmental impacts and are rarely confined to the area of proposed development. In the majority of cases, however, these adverse effects can be anticipated and prevented, or at least minimised, by careful assessment, planning, and monitoring, and by the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures by responsible quarry operators.

It is true that as the scale of many quarrying operations has steadily grown, especially in recent years, and as increasing numbers of quarries extend below the water table, the potential for more substantial effects on water resources and the water environment in general has increased. So although the actual effects associated with any given quarry are often limited to a few key issues, there is a need for all potential issues to be given consideration at the initial planning stage and to be kept under review throughout the lifetime of the quarry. This need is highlighted by the increasing emphasis on environmental protection, by the increasing scope of environmental legislation, and by recognition of the concept of sustainable development as an essential aspect of modern land use planning in Great Britain.

This section is based on the Guide to Good Practice⁷⁸, produced in 1998 by Symonds Group Limited for the former Department of the Environment, Transport & Regions (now the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister). It was designed to assist mineral planners and mineral operators in meeting this objective by working together to avoid or reduce the potential impact of surface mineral workings on all aspects of the water environment. It is aimed at those who may not be specialists in any of these fields, but who need to deal with the issues involved.