Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd

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Dry retrieval

During the 1990s, UKAEA carried out a number of studies to develop a plan for the future management of the waste contained in the shaft.

On March 31, 1998, the UK Government announced its approval of the selected strategy based on dry retrieval, treatment and on-site storage of the ILW, until a national strategy for the long-term management of ILW was developed. 

Dry retrieval is based on lowering the water level inside the shaft so that operators can identify individual items to be retrieved.

As the shaft is not lined, however, groundwater flow would increase as the shaft was emptied and the volumes of water that need to be removed would be up to 300 cubic metres per day, all of which would need to be treated as ILW.

This would need a new liquid treatment plant at cost of approximately £200m.

As a result, the control of groundwater into and around the shaft was seen to be essential to the successful implementation of waste retrieval operations.

Following a number of studies and a period of public consultation, grouting of the rock around the shaft was identified as the best groundwater control option.  Click here to read the full report .