Three Million Gallons of Contaminated Water Turns River Orange in Colorado

[Earthnut]

(Heart-wrenching when you think of all the wildlife that depends upon this water to survive)

Three Million Gallons of Contaminated Water Turns River Orange in Colorado

 

[Libby]

That is tragic. That amount of arsenic and lead is bound to have a serious effect on the wildlife in and around the river for a long time. The EPA's comment that "The EPA does not believe wildlife is in significant danger because the sludge moved so quickly downstream." isn't exactly true. Any natural river will have small areas where the water flows slowly, and some of the contaminants will have seeped into the river banks, potentially poisoning animals and plants that live there. And birds living on the river could well have trapped some of the contaminants in their feathers, let alone have drunk in some of the contaminants. And also it's no good saying that not many fish or other organisms have been found dead - many contaminants can take some time before the effects show themselves.

I realise that it's not easy to know for sure what's in a disused mine or how much water there is, but there should have been a Plan B.

[Beerbelch]

BEER-----> And to think - The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for this happening!

BELCH

[Walkabout]

lets not forget the Native Americans who depend on this river for their life and that of their livestock and food sources .

Edited August 11, 2015 by Walkabout

[Earthnut]

BEER-----> And to think - The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for this happening!

BELCH

Definitely something they should be ashamed of.

lets not forget the Native Americans who depend on this river for their life and that of their livestock and food sources .

Again, this is so heart-wrenching, along with all the wildfires destroying lives and homes.

Came back with a news flash ~ Contaminated water is traveling through Utah and New Mexico.

Edited August 12, 2015 by Earthnut