Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia

Nakia Belmer; Ian Alexander Wright

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11

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Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright

Published in American Journal of Water Science and Engineering (Volume 5, Issue 2)

Received: 19 April 2019 Accepted: 29 May 2019 Published: 12 June 2019

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Abstract

This study investigates the accumulation of licensed and regulated coal mine wastewater pollutants from seven coal mines on each mines respective receiving waterways river sediments. Results from this study shows that the coal mine wastewater pollutants are accumulating within river sediments downstream of the coal mine wastewater inflows at varying levels often greater than the ANZECC guidelines for sediment and often above reference condition sediment concentrations. This is of great concern as these pollutants will likely continue to persist in the river sediment and eventually become legacy pollutants. Coal mine wastewater discharges in New South Wales are regulated by the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority [NSW EPA] and environmental protection of receiving waterways is implemented through Environmental Protection Licenses. Environmental Protection Licenses set discharge limits for water quality and chemical concentrations within the coal mine waste waters. Though they do not take into account river sediment concentrations. It appears water column pollution regulation at these coal mines is in fact failing to protect the environment whilst still regulated and will continue into the future post mining, licensing and regulation. Water column regulation may well be impractical in protecting the environment as it appears that water column concentrations do not portray the overall environmental impact. It is recommended that the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority investigate these findings and continue to improve water column pollutant limits as to alleviate the continued accumulation and magnification of the contaminants.

Published in	American Journal of Water Science and Engineering (Volume 5, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11
Page(s)	37-46
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Coal Mine Wastewater, River Sediment Chemistry, Pollutant Accumulation, River Sediment Contamination, Environmental Regulation, Australia

References

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APA Style

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright. (2019). Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. American Journal of Water Science and Engineering, 5(2), 37-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11

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ACS Style

Nakia Belmer; Ian Alexander Wright. Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. Am. J. Water Sci. Eng. 2019, 5(2), 37-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11

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AMA Style

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright. Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. Am J Water Sci Eng. 2019;5(2):37-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11,
  author = {Nakia Belmer and Ian Alexander Wright},
  title = {Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia},
  journal = {American Journal of Water Science and Engineering},
  volume = {5},
  number = {2},
  pages = {37-46},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajwse.20190502.11},
  abstract = {This study investigates the accumulation of licensed and regulated coal mine wastewater pollutants from seven coal mines on each mines respective receiving waterways river sediments. Results from this study shows that the coal mine wastewater pollutants are accumulating within river sediments downstream of the coal mine wastewater inflows at varying levels often greater than the ANZECC guidelines for sediment and often above reference condition sediment concentrations. This is of great concern as these pollutants will likely continue to persist in the river sediment and eventually become legacy pollutants. Coal mine wastewater discharges in New South Wales are regulated by the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority [NSW EPA] and environmental protection of receiving waterways is implemented through Environmental Protection Licenses. Environmental Protection Licenses set discharge limits for water quality and chemical concentrations within the coal mine waste waters. Though they do not take into account river sediment concentrations. It appears water column pollution regulation at these coal mines is in fact failing to protect the environment whilst still regulated and will continue into the future post mining, licensing and regulation. Water column regulation may well be impractical in protecting the environment as it appears that water column concentrations do not portray the overall environmental impact. It is recommended that the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority investigate these findings and continue to improve water column pollutant limits as to alleviate the continued accumulation and magnification of the contaminants.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia
AU  - Nakia Belmer
AU  - Ian Alexander Wright
Y1  - 2019/06/12
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11
T2  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
SP  - 37
EP  - 46
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1875
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11
AB  - This study investigates the accumulation of licensed and regulated coal mine wastewater pollutants from seven coal mines on each mines respective receiving waterways river sediments. Results from this study shows that the coal mine wastewater pollutants are accumulating within river sediments downstream of the coal mine wastewater inflows at varying levels often greater than the ANZECC guidelines for sediment and often above reference condition sediment concentrations. This is of great concern as these pollutants will likely continue to persist in the river sediment and eventually become legacy pollutants. Coal mine wastewater discharges in New South Wales are regulated by the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority [NSW EPA] and environmental protection of receiving waterways is implemented through Environmental Protection Licenses. Environmental Protection Licenses set discharge limits for water quality and chemical concentrations within the coal mine waste waters. Though they do not take into account river sediment concentrations. It appears water column pollution regulation at these coal mines is in fact failing to protect the environment whilst still regulated and will continue into the future post mining, licensing and regulation. Water column regulation may well be impractical in protecting the environment as it appears that water column concentrations do not portray the overall environmental impact. It is recommended that the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority investigate these findings and continue to improve water column pollutant limits as to alleviate the continued accumulation and magnification of the contaminants.
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Nakia Belmer

School of Science and Health, Sydney, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia
Ian Alexander Wright

School of Science and Health, Sydney, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia

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APA Style

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright. (2019). Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. American Journal of Water Science and Engineering, 5(2), 37-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11

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ACS Style

Nakia Belmer; Ian Alexander Wright. Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. Am. J. Water Sci. Eng. 2019, 5(2), 37-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11

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AMA Style

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright. Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. Am J Water Sci Eng. 2019;5(2):37-46. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11,
  author = {Nakia Belmer and Ian Alexander Wright},
  title = {Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia},
  journal = {American Journal of Water Science and Engineering},
  volume = {5},
  number = {2},
  pages = {37-46},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajwse.20190502.11},
  abstract = {This study investigates the accumulation of licensed and regulated coal mine wastewater pollutants from seven coal mines on each mines respective receiving waterways river sediments. Results from this study shows that the coal mine wastewater pollutants are accumulating within river sediments downstream of the coal mine wastewater inflows at varying levels often greater than the ANZECC guidelines for sediment and often above reference condition sediment concentrations. This is of great concern as these pollutants will likely continue to persist in the river sediment and eventually become legacy pollutants. Coal mine wastewater discharges in New South Wales are regulated by the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority [NSW EPA] and environmental protection of receiving waterways is implemented through Environmental Protection Licenses. Environmental Protection Licenses set discharge limits for water quality and chemical concentrations within the coal mine waste waters. Though they do not take into account river sediment concentrations. It appears water column pollution regulation at these coal mines is in fact failing to protect the environment whilst still regulated and will continue into the future post mining, licensing and regulation. Water column regulation may well be impractical in protecting the environment as it appears that water column concentrations do not portray the overall environmental impact. It is recommended that the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority investigate these findings and continue to improve water column pollutant limits as to alleviate the continued accumulation and magnification of the contaminants.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Regional Comparison of Impacts from Seven Australian Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges on Downstream River Sediment Chemistry, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia
AU  - Nakia Belmer
AU  - Ian Alexander Wright
Y1  - 2019/06/12
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11
T2  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
SP  - 37
EP  - 46
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1875
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.11
AB  - This study investigates the accumulation of licensed and regulated coal mine wastewater pollutants from seven coal mines on each mines respective receiving waterways river sediments. Results from this study shows that the coal mine wastewater pollutants are accumulating within river sediments downstream of the coal mine wastewater inflows at varying levels often greater than the ANZECC guidelines for sediment and often above reference condition sediment concentrations. This is of great concern as these pollutants will likely continue to persist in the river sediment and eventually become legacy pollutants. Coal mine wastewater discharges in New South Wales are regulated by the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority [NSW EPA] and environmental protection of receiving waterways is implemented through Environmental Protection Licenses. Environmental Protection Licenses set discharge limits for water quality and chemical concentrations within the coal mine waste waters. Though they do not take into account river sediment concentrations. It appears water column pollution regulation at these coal mines is in fact failing to protect the environment whilst still regulated and will continue into the future post mining, licensing and regulation. Water column regulation may well be impractical in protecting the environment as it appears that water column concentrations do not portray the overall environmental impact. It is recommended that the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority investigate these findings and continue to improve water column pollutant limits as to alleviate the continued accumulation and magnification of the contaminants.
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download