The EPA doesn’t cause environmental emergencies… they fix them. But this time, they’re responsible for one serious spill in Colorado’s Animas River. And the toxic sludge is spreading from the source fast — 555 gallons per minute to be exact.
Last week, the EPA were investigating leaks at the Gold King Mine just north of the town of Durango when crew members accidentally dislodged a plug. The flush has since resulted in a catastrophic three-million-ton spill. In fact, the toxic water has already made its way to communities downstream, prompting immense concern for the neighboring Colorado River.
The spill is already in New Mexico and is heading westward. Photo: CNN
KUNC explained how mines become common sources of highly contaminated, toxic water: “According to Ronald Cohen, an environmental engineer at the Colorado School of Mines, whenever you dig into a mountain, ‘at some point you are going to hit water.’
“That water, when it runs through the rocks in a mine, hits a mineral called pyrite, or iron sulfide. It reacts with air and pyrite to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron. That acid then continues through the mine, dissolving other heavy metals, like copper and lead. Eventually, you end up with water that’s got high levels of a lot of undesirable materials in it.”
Photo: Steve Fassbinder
While the thick orange mixture may resemble your favorite juice from Whole Foods, this concoction certainly should not be consumed. KUNC also mentions that “it’s the largest untreated mine drainage in the state, and problematic concentrations of zinc, copper, cadmium, iron, lead, manganese and aluminum are choking off the Upper Animas River’s ecosystem.” At the moment, thousands of residents in the nearby towns are awaiting test results to assess the severity of the spill and the water’s toxicity.
So, what’s going to happen next? Well, if you’ve taken a chemistry course, you’d know that water is the “universal solvent.” This means the pollutants will eventually dilute or sink as the river continues to flow — but there’s no telling how long this could take. Nor do we know how far the contamination will spread before it is fully contained. According to Wired, the Bureau of Reclamation is releasing more water from the Navajo Dam in efforts to speed up the healing process. The EPA has also installed holding pools to help separate the water.
Known for its phenomenal kayaking, rafting, and world-class trout fishing, we can only hope the area will be restored in a timely manner. Until then, The Guardian says that affected communities in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah may not access water until the 17th of August. The EPA hopes to have more information by then, and temporary water sources have already been implemented in the areas.
This has been quite a learning experience for the EPA. In terms of proper mine investigation and dealing with the unfavorable outcome. Thankfully, they have taken full responsibility for the spill and have already opened up damage claims to the public.
