Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Stream quality in Appalachia as related to coal-mine drainage, 1965

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7284480
;
A stream-quality reconnaissance at 318 locations in May 1965 offered the first opportunity for a contemporaneous regional collection and appraisal of water-quality data in Appalachia. The results provide a means of regional comparison of the influence of coal-mine drainage on stream quality at approximately median streamflow. The results disclose that the chemical quality of the water at nearly 200 sites did not meet recommended drinking-water standards. At many of these sites, inferior quality was caused by excessive concentrations of solutes commonly associated with coal-mine waters. Water-quality damage from mine drainage is particularly severe in the more heavily mined northern one-third of the region where high sulfate content, free mineral acidity, and low pH are typical of most affected streams. A deficiency in natural stream alkalinity in this part of the coal region contributes greatly to the massive effect of mine drainage upon stream quality. However, data collected from streams affected by mine drainage along the west edge of this part of the coal field suggest extensive neutralization of mine water. In southern Appalachia coal-mine drainage had less influence on stream quality than in northern Appalachia. Fewer streams in this area were influenced by mine drainage, and the magnitude of stream damage for affected streams was less than in northern Appalachia.
Research Organization:
Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. (USA)
OSTI ID:
7284480
Report Number(s):
USGS-CIRC-526
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Incidence and formation of mine drainage pollution in Appalachia. Appendix C to acid mine drainage in Appalachia, a report by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Final report
Technical Report · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1969 · OSTI ID:7140763
Stream pollution by coal mine drainage in Appalachia
Technical Report · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1968 · OSTI ID:7093447
Mine drainage and rock type influences on eastern Ohio stream water quality
Journal Article · Wed Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1983 · Water Resour. Bull.; (United States) · OSTI ID:6502168

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
APPALACHIA
COAL MINES
DRINKING WATER
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
STREAMS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE MINING
SURFACE WATERS
UNDERGROUND MINING
USA
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY