The amount of heavy metals is not that great from what I’ve read. Arsenic is the big worry and it doesn’t seem that big a percent of the effluent. I doubt it will contaminate the ground water to any great extent. It is a stupid mistake of the EPA still.
This was a mine for gold, and I assume the water isn’t polluted with gold (or someone would want it).
So what do they get, just miscellaneous minerals that were in the vicinity of the gold seam?
Associated Press
EPA: No health risks to wildlife after Colorado mine spill
https://news.yahoo.com/epa-no-health-risks-wildlife-colorado-mine-spill-222946025.html
DENVER (AP) — An Environmental Protection Agency official said Sunday she doesn’t believe wildlife will suffer significant health impacts from the large volume of wastewater that spilled from an abandoned mine in southwestern Colorado.
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Stuff happens.
While arsenic is the largest contaminant, the other heavy metals, such as cadmium can cause problems in trace amounts. Those metals will contaminate the sediment, and every time the mud is stirred up, it will become available.
I’m not saying to expect a lot of one-eyed deer, but if I had a kid, or Mrs. VanShuyten was gravid, I’d be real cautious about drinking the water.