Mining cannot exist without the continuous drainage of mines, which have recently undertaken increasing numbers of projects to minimize the environmental burden of mine water discharges.
- Water from our mines is discharged in compliance with the provisions of law as specified in relevant water rights permits granted to the JSW Group company PGWiR, which operates the Olza retention and feeding system and the Desalination Plant, as well as the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine - assured Edward Paździorko, Vice-President of the JSW Management Board for Technical and Operational Matters, and added: - Without drainage there is no mine life. This is a natural process associated with coal mining, a condition for ensuring the safety of miners and the existence of any mine.
At Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa, the discharge of saline water into the upper Oder River basin is handled by Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji (Water Management and Reclamation Company). The main components are the Olza retention and feeding system and the Desalination Plant in Czerwionka-Leszczyny. The water goes to settling tanks, where it is cleaned of particulate matter. The transmission pipelines have a total length of 89 km, and the retention capacity of the reservoirs is approx. 600,000 m3. The Olza system at JSW S.A. allows for 21 days of water retention during drought. At the point where the channel feeds into the Oder River near Krzyżanowice, 51 nozzles have been installed in the river bed across the entire width of the river, allowing the water to be effectively mixed along a relatively short section of the river. The water desalination system treats mine brines, and as a result of such technological processes as reverse osmosis and evaporation the plant produces high-quality food-grade salt under the "Dębieńska Salt" brand for the food and chemical industries. In 2018, salt from JSW was awarded a quality certificate and the Top Product title, as well as the promotional emblem "Doceń Polskie” [Appreciate Polish Products].
