Heavy Metals Flowing into Sydney Water - Study
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Academic
Millions of litres of highly toxic water is escaping from a derelict coal mine into Sydney's drinking water catchment, according to new scientific research.
Sydney: Image Source: Wikimedia Commons, By Matthew Field
Dr Ian Wright, one of Australia's leading water scientists, tested waste water from the derelict Berrima Colliery, and said pollution levels are the highest he's ever seen.
"I've been studying coal mines and water pollution associated with coalmines for nearly 20 years in the Sydney basin," he said.
"This is the worst. And it's counterintuitive, to many, to me indeed, that the mines shut down and the pollution has got worse."
Dr Wright said the contamination was "internationally significant", with heavy metals in the Wingecarribee River far exceeding safe environmental levels.
Levels of zinc are especially high - more than 120 times the normal baseline level.
The mine's owners, Boral, declined a request for interview, but said the company was aware of Dr Ian Wright's work and had cooperated with him to provide data and assistance.
"We will now consider his findings, but note that from our initial review they do not appear to accord with other monitoring conducted downstream of his sampling points and as a result, will likely contradict other recent independent research commissioned by Boral," a Boral spokesperson said.
"This is something Boral will consider further as part of the development of its final closure plans."
The mine is currently under "care and maintenance" provisions and Boral are in the process of seeking approval to rehabilitate and abandon the mine.
Read full article: RNZ
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Taxonomy
- Decontamination
- Research
- Contaminant Removal
- Integrated Urban Water Management
- Contaminant Movement Mapping
- Urban Water
- Urban Water Supply
- Pollution