Initial situation

After 150 years of mining in Lusatia, in order to restore a hydrologic balance that is, as far as possible, self-regulating, the aquifers and the former opencast mine lakes have to be filled with approximately 7 billion m³ of water. Using as large a proportion as possible of good-quality surface water ensures that their resultant water quality will also be good, and saves treatment costs. The agreements between the LMBV and Brandenburg's Landesumweltamt (State Environmental Agency) and Saxony's Landestalsperrenverwaltung (State Barrage Administration) form the basis for tapping the quantities required for flooding, because the response to high water events from their recognition to the management of the crises they may cause is a matter belonging to the exclusive domain of the states.

Approach

After intensive work with specialists the Lusatian flooding headquarters (FZL) was able to begin trial operation in September 2000. The objective of the flooding headquarters is the effective exploitation of the quantities of water available for flooding the disused opencast mine pits, and monitoring them. This involves managing the quantities naturally available: ensuring that extraction requirements can be met, that minimum drainage flows and the level of the Oder-Spree canal are maintained, filling the aquifers, and flooding the former opencast mines to form lakes. It is also necessary to be able to exploit even smaller quantities of water for flooding the former opencast mines by being able to respond rapidly. All this requires continuous monitoring of the hydrological situation in the Neiße, Spree, and Schwarze Elster river basins.

Result

Filling the aquifers and former opencast mining pits with approximately 4 billion m³ of imported water, somewhat more than half the overall deficit has been replaced. On the basis of the contracts with the States of Brandenburg and Saxony, the flooding headquarters transmits the current state of the system to the future lakes and reservoirs, integrating LMBV's available storage in the ongoing high water management. The Lusatian flooding headquarters (FZL) is at present situated in LMBV's offices in Senftenberg.