Clean-up action in Belgian cave.

[Leclused]

Hi,

The Sainte-Anne cave in Tilff  - Belgium is a beginners cave which has been visited over 170 years. These visits with lamps, torches, aceto lights left a film of black soot all over the cave. A while ago we noticed that this film of black soot was easily removable with some water. So the Belgian Caving Community (UBS/VVS) launched the project to clean  this cave using pressure cleaners and spray cans. During the week-end of 24/26 august 2012 this  action took place.

Vincent Gerber made a video that shows the result of this action.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-CbbNVZeu62xIuYLZ9T5mhlgFIcrtFMHyIlnro1ukGE?feat=directlink

It gives some amazing before/after situations.

I  hope this encourage other cavers around the world. The Belgian Caving community is going to repeat these kind of actions in the coming years. First of all the remaining part of the Saint-Anne cave will be cleaned. But also other caves will be checked if a clean-up action can be done.

Dagobert L?Ecluse (Sc Avalon ? Belgium)

 

[AR]

I'm impressed at the change it makes!

Any volunteers for a pressure-washing session in the Beehives at Jugholes? :-\

 

[rhychydwr1]

Brilliant video and amazing results.

 

[Roger W]

And the river flowed black...

Great work!

 

[owd git]

I'm impressed at the change it makes!

Any volunteers for a pressure-washing session in the Beehives at Jugholes? :-\

yup, got the gear?

 

[Leclused]

I'm impressed at the change it makes!

Any volunteers for a pressure-washing session in the Beehives at Jugholes? :-\

yup, got the gear?

Before you collect all the required gear, go out and check the cave first if its even possible to start a clean-up. We were lucky that the soot was not yet encrusted in the limestone so most of the soot was removable. On some after pictures you can see black spots were the soot was already encrusted.

Step by step

- check if the soot/dirt can be removed
- check if you have clean water. IF not everything need to be brought in
- Seek for people (we worked with a group of 20-25 persons/day to get 2 pressure washers up and running)
- Get the gear and start cleaning.
- ... and don't forget to invite the BBC

BTW : If you want technical information about pumps, buckets, hoses, pressure washers, electric cables;... I'm alwayq willing to help you with this.

 

[Leclused]

I noticed that the previous link is broken.

But the clip can be still be seen here

https://sites.google.com/site/speleovig/Environnement/operation-mr-propre-a-ste-anne

Dagobert (Sc Avalon)