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234 III. Introduction to Water Resources and ContaminationFIGURE 15.6 Chloride ion concentration in Alum Creek basin in the autumn.region, known as the New Lead Belt, became one ofthe largest lead-producing areas in the world. It continuesto be a primary producer of lead with secondaryproduction of zinc, and small quantities ofcopper and silver (Brumbaugh et al, 2007). In order toevaluate the impact of mining on this sparsely populated,heavily forested, and hilly region, a number of surfacewaterand aquatic life forms were examined. Sampleswere collected from streams free of mining and millingoperations (control samples) and from contaminatedstreams.
Exercise 15 • Groundwater and Surface Water Contamination from Resource Extraction 235Changes in water quality and aquatic life in thesestreams since 1955 are related to the discharge ofmilling and mining wastes which include excess waterpumped from mines, finely crushed rock, chemicalreagents, and waste oils and fuel. These wastes areallowed to settle in holding ponds, and the effluent iseither reused or allowed to discharge into streams. Thegreatest share of the noxious substances is retained inthe settling basins.Most of the heavy metals in the streams are invery fine particles; a minute amount is dissolved butmost heavy metals travel on suspended sediment inthe water. Where large excesses of groundwater havebeen pumped from mines and discharged into streams,significant algal blooms have occurred. They may be aresult of the nutrients in the groundwater. The densealgal communities act as filters and remove many ofthe fine particles that escape the settling basins.In this exercise we begin by investigating metalcontamination of water and aquatic organisms on theWest Fork Black River and tributaries Strother Creek,Neal Creek, and Bee Fork Creek (Figure 15.7) usingdata published in 1973 (Gale et al., 1973). We concludewith an assessment of conditions in this same areabased on sampling of water and sediments between2002 and 2005 (Brumbaugh et al., 2007).QUESTIONS 15, PART C1. Examine Figure 15.7 and Table 15.3. Sample sites 6, 9, 10,and 14 are in uncontaminated areas. What are the backgroundconcentrations of the following elements in surfacewater?Lead:Zinc:Copper:Manganese:2. In Figure 15.7 mark in red (or use a pattern [e.g., dots] thatyou identify in the explanation) the stream reaches thatexceed background concentrations of lead. Consider themost likely source of the lead as a guide in marking thestream reaches.5. On the basis of available data, would you expect backgroundconcentrations of the contamination in Creek A?Explain.3. In Figure 15.7 mark in green (or with a dash pattern) thestream reaches that exceed 0.011 ppm of zinc.6. Examine the Mn concentrations in aquatic organisms in4. What relationship appears to exist between settling basin Strother Creek as shown in Table 15.4.location and the quality of water in the stream?a. What general relationship is evident?
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