BCL Document Reference: C/TL/W&W/EIA08.002 Tarmac Limited WREDON & WARDLOW QUARRIES Nr. Cauldon Low, Staffordshire Application for Consolidation of Existing Planning Permissions Hydrogeological and Hydrological Assessment 26th June 2009 Report prepared for: Tarmac Limited Tunstead House BUXTON Derbyshire SK17 8TG Tel. 01298 768444 Fax. 01298 768454 Technology Centre Wolverhampton Science Park, Wolverhampton, WV10 9RU Consultant Hydrogeologists Limited Tel: 01902 824111, Fax: 01902 824112 email: [email protected] web: http://www.bclhydro.co.uk Company Registration Number: 4043373 Registered in England & Wales. Registered Office: 33 Wolverhampton Road, Cannock. This Page Intentionally Left Blank BCL Document Reference: C/TL/W&W/EIA08.002 Tarmac Limited WREDON & WARDLOW QUARRIES Nr. Cauldon Low, Staffordshire Application for Consolidation of Existing Planning Permissions Hydrogeological and Hydrological Assessment 26th June 2009 Report prepared by: Gavin Chaplin B.Sc. M.Sc. Senior Hydrogeologist Report checked by: Henry Lister B.Sc. M.Sc. Senior Hydrogeologist Technology Centre Wolverhampton Science Park, Wolverhampton, WV10 9RU Consultant Hydrogeologists Limited Tel: 01902 824111, Fax: 01902 824112 email: [email protected] web: http://www.bclhydro.co.uk Company Registration Number: 4043373 Registered in England & Wales. Registered Office: 33 Wolverhampton Road, Cannock. This Page Intentionally Left Blank Wredon & Wardlow Quarries, Nr. Cauldon Low, Staffordshire Application for Consolidation of Existing Planning Permissions Hydrogeological and Hydrological Assessment CONTENTS Page Number EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS 1 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................1 1.1 Background..........................................................................................................1 1.2 Aim, Scope and Methodology of Assessment.......................................................1 1.3 Data Sources........................................................................................................2 1.4 Report Structure...................................................................................................4 2 BASELINE STUDY...........................................................................................5 2.1 Site Location & Access........................................................................................5 2.2 Existing Workings................................................................................................5 2.3 Existing Depth Restrictions..................................................................................6 2.4 Topographic Setting & Adjoining Land Use.........................................................6 2.5 Designated Sites...................................................................................................7 2.6 Landfill Sites........................................................................................................7 2.7 Geology...............................................................................................................7 2.7.1 Regional Geology..............................................................................8 2.7.2 Local Geology....................................................................................9 - Lower Carboniferous (Dinantian) and Older.............................9 - Upper Carboniferous (Namurian)............................................10 - Triassic...................................................................................10 - Tertiary...................................................................................10 - Quaternary..............................................................................11 2.7.3 Geological Structure.........................................................................11 2.7.4 Mining.............................................................................................12 2.8 Hydrology..........................................................................................................12 2.8.1 Metrological Data............................................................................12 2.8.2 Surface Water Catchments...............................................................14 2.8.3 Surface Watercourses.......................................................................14 2.8.4 Surface Waterbodies........................................................................15 2.8.5 Flooding...........................................................................................15 2.9 Hydrogeology....................................................................................................16 BCL Document Reference: C/TL/W&W/EIA08.002 26th June 2009 Consultant Hydrogeologists Limited Wredon & Wardlow Quarries, Nr. Cauldon Low, Staffordshire Application for Consolidation of Existing Planning Permissions Hydrogeological and Hydrological Assessment 2.9.1 Aquifer Characteristics of the Carboniferous Limestone...................16 2.9.2 Aquifer Recharge.............................................................................18 2.9.3 Regional Groundwater Flow.............................................................18 - Proven Karstic Drainage within the Wider Area.....................19 2.9.4 Local Aquifer and Groundwater Characteristics...............................19 - Proven Karstic Drainage within the Local Area.......................20 - Reconnaissance Survey...........................................................20 - Site Piezometers......................................................................20 - Kevin Quarry Piezometers......................................................22 - Groundwater Levels and Flow Direction within the Mass of the Limestone...............................................................................22 - Depth to Groundwater within the Mass of the Limestone........24 - Seasonal Groundwater Level Variation...................................24 - Abstractions............................................................................25 - Water Resource Availability (CAMS).....................................26 3 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT..............................................................27 3.1 Overview............................................................................................................27 3.2 Quarry Operations..............................................................................................27 3.3 The Phased Extraction Programme.....................................................................28 3.3.1 Phase 1.............................................................................................28 3.3.2 Phase 2.............................................................................................28 3.3.3 Phase 3.............................................................................................28 3.4 Restoration.........................................................................................................29 3.5 Water Management During Extraction...............................................................29 3.5.1 Phases 1 & 2....................................................................................29 3.5.2 Phase 3.............................................................................................29 3.6 Water Management following Restoration..........................................................31 4 IMPACT ASSESSMENT & MITIGATION MEASURES............................33 4.1 Background........................................................................................................33 4.2 Generic Potential Impacts...................................................................................33 4.3 Potential for Impact upon Groundwater Levels and Flow...................................34 4.3.1 Operational Phases 1 & 2.................................................................34 - Position of Workings in relation to the Watertable (i.e. groundwater held within the mass of the Limestone)...............34 - Potential for Interception of Karst Conduit Flow.....................34 BCL Document Reference: C/TL/W&W/EIA08.002 26th June 2009 Consultant Hydrogeologists Limited Wredon & Wardlow Quarries, Nr. Cauldon Low, Staffordshire Application for Consolidation of Existing Planning Permissions Hydrogeological and Hydrological Assessment 4.3.2 Operational Phases 3........................................................................37 4.3.3 Transfer Licensing...........................................................................37 4.3.4 Restoration.......................................................................................38 4.4 Potential for Derogation of Groundwater Quality...............................................39 4.5 Potential for Derogation of Surface Water Quality..............................................41 4.6 Flood Risk..........................................................................................................41 5 SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS.....................................................................43 TABLES Table 1: Summary Details of SSSI local to the Proposed Development 7 Table 2: Summary Regional Stratigraphic Sequence 8 Table 3 Area LTA monthly rainfall and potential transpiration (mm) 13 Table 4: Derivation of Effective Rainfall for Various Surfaces using the Grindley Water Budget Method 13 Table 5: Licensed Abstractions 25 FIGURES (all figures