Acid Water Threatens Johannesburg

Hundreds of thousands of gallons of acidic water from unregulated mining operations may overflow into the streets of Johannesburg.
Acid Water Threatens Johannesburg
By
8/5/2010
Updated:
8/5/2010
[xtypo_dropcap]H[/xtypo_dropcap]undreds of thousands of gallons of acidic water from unregulated mining operations in the area of Witwatersrand, South Africa, may overflow into the streets of Johannesburg within the next year and a half, according to a report by Defense Web, a South African defense and security news site.

The acid water forms in abandoned mine shafts, where water mixes and oxidizes with sulfide mineral iron pyrite. Known as acid mine drainage, the contaminated water discharges into nearby rivers and streams.

The water could cause millions of dollars in damage to the city and its economy, should the overflow occur, according to a report by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV).

Companies are legally required to treat the drainage but many do not in an effort to save money, according to NTDTV.

The drainage “can have catastrophic consequences for the Johannesburg central business district if not stopped in time,” said director of water quality management for the South African Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, Marius Keet, according to Defense Web.
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