Contaminated Water From Colorado Mine Headed For Lake Powell

By Stina Sieg
Published: Monday, August 10, 2015 - 9:11am
Updated: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 1:09pm
(Photo courtesy of Environmental Protection Agency)
On Aug. 5, 2015, the EPA spilled contaminated wastewater from the Gold King Mine in San Juan County, Colorado.

Contaminated water has been spewing from a Colorado mine site and into a river since late last week. Now, the National Park Service warns the polluted plume could reach Lake Powell early this week.

MORE: EPA Releases Mine Waste Into Animas River

Contaminant levels and possible impacts at Lake Powell are not yet understood. But as a precaution, the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is encouraging visitors to avoid drinking, swimming or boating on the San Juan River within the recreation area and on the San Juan arm of Lake Powell until further notice.

On Thursday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced an estimated million gallons of mine waste was accidentally released by a federal cleanup crew from the long-closed Gold King Mine in Colorado. A day later, the contamination had reached New Mexico.

Click The Map To See The Path Of Wastewater

More Gold King Mine Coverage

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