Mine water pollution - acid mine decant, effluent and treatment: a consideration of key emerging issues that may impact the State of the Environment

Abstract

Acid Mine Discharge (AMD) is a contaminated waste generated out of the mining activities both during and after the operation period. AMD has adverse impact on the socio-economic conditions of the people residing in and around mining site. It basically constitutes substances having high salinity, toxic elements and salts which pollute surface and sub-surface ground water. AMD in addition to polluting the ground water also affects the flora and fauna, soil degradation and the infiltration of the heavy metals into sub-surface of the regain. The release of mining waste has a direct relationship on the rise in the global warming and atmospheric ozone depletion. The potential impact of mining on water resources can be analysed from to the intensity of mining activity, volume of contaminated waste and its seepage into the sub-surface terrain, rate of re-watering and dewatering. The article refers to the possible remedies to environmental pollution which include prevention of intermixing of AMD with water flow, percolation of AMD into the underground water system, diversion of water streams away from the residue storage areas and controlled placement of acid generating waste.