A contaminated well was discovered during initial earthworks for a major new development in Bristol.
The 20-metre well, full of sludge and water contaminated with hydrocarbons, was found on the site of the Redcliff Quarter development.
The “historic well”, thought to have been used for starch works in the area, was discovered close to where developers Change Real Estate plan to build a multi-storey apartment block.
Engineers recommended that the contaminated water be pumped out of the well to “remove any potential for it to act as an ongoing source”.
But an obstruction meant it was not possible to pump all the water out of the well so engineers have agreed to push the water out by filling the well with concrete or self-compacting granular fill, a technical report from January shows.
Filling the well will also stabilise the ground, addressing the geotechnical risk the well presented to the development, the report prepared by engineering firm Arup shows.
“Following discussions with the contaminated land officer at Bristol City Council it was agreed that no further pumping is required from the historic well, and [that] the well is backfilled with the resulting water pushed up out of the well and collected and disposed of accordingly, thus removing any contaminated groundwater from the well,” according to the report published on the council’s website this month.
Arup has recommended that, once the well has been filled, further testing of the groundwater takes place to check for “speciated total petroleum hydrocarbons” and other substances.
“The above testing is recommended in order to validate that there is no considerable contamination within the groundwater and to support no further remediation other than that detailed above,” the firm’s report says.
The high rise block on Cross Street is among a number planned for the Redcliffe Quarter, which will also contain a 239-bed hotel, eight restaurants, a foodhall and a co-working space similar to the Engine Shed.
The entire development will occupy a 3.5-acre derelict site off Queen’s Lane and Redcliff Street.
