Mining coal - Key potential environmental impacts
Water
Surface water and groundwater
Mined coal lands are often intersected by lakes, rivers, streams and drainage systems. Coal companies are responsible for maintaining water quality and quantity in and around mines. To do this, they:
- control water use through water reuse and recycling
- treat water used in processing coal before disposing it
- minimize impacts on local waterways through careful siting and planning of mines
Waterways diverted for mining projects are usually redirected back to re-constructed paths so fish and other aquatic life are only temporarily moved.
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