WATER POLLUTION BY ABANDONED MINE SITES; ACID MINE DRAINAGE; MINED LAND RECLAMATION

摘要

Surface and groundwater polluting discharges originate from two source types and are classified as: (1) identifiable point sources, and (2) non-point sources. The latter source produces diffused wastes into waters by land runnoff, washout from the atmosphere or other means.Examples of point sources for polluting waters are: municipal sewer systems; storm-water runoff; industrial wastes; and, animal wastes from commercial feed-lots. Examples of non-point sources are: natural drainage sediments; agricultural chemicals; mine drainage; and spills of hazardous substances. Non-point source (NPS) pollution does not result from a discharge at a single, specific location, but results from land runoff, precipitation, snowmelt, atmospheric deposition, drainage or seepage.