ACID Mine Drainage : A Case Study of An Indian Coal Mine

Abstract

Water is essential to life on our planet. A prerequisite of sustainable development must be to ensure uncontaminated streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. We often take the presence of clean water for granted, forgetting its importance and assuming that it is always available. Unfortunately, the law and technology to protect this vital resource remains far from perfect. Increasingly, human activities threaten the water sources on which we all depend. Mining is one such activity. In fact, water has been called "mining's most common casualty."
This paper discusses one of the major negative impacts that the mining industry has on water i.e. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), the chemistry of AMD, its environmental effects and impacts and a brief discussion about various treatment methods. Further a case study from India of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) has been used to describe three of the treatment methods in details and the results of this ETP. Finally concluding with suggestions to improve the existing plant and overall AMD Treatment in Indian Mines.