Treated water being pumped out of Butte's Berkeley Pit

[Ptah]

By: John Emeigh - MTN News Butte

BUTTE — A historic milestone was reached this week in Butte’s continuing Superfund cleanup journey as the first treated water from the Berkeley Pit was discharged into Silver Bow Creek.

“We’re very excited, this is just a monumental day for us, and ARCO and the city of Butte,” said Mark Thompson of Montana Resources.

This was part of a decree between the EPA, Atlantic Richfield and other agencies requiring the rising contaminated water in the pit located on Montana Resources property be treated and halted from rising.

There was a deadline of 2023 stop the water from rising as it reached the critical level where it could spill over into the city’s groundwater.

https://www.kpax.com/news/montana-news/treated-water-being-pumped-out-of-buttes-berkeley-pit

[cilla4progress]

1. Oy - I've seen it

Do we actually believe the water is appropriately treated? Is a legit environmental agency monitoring?

Wonderful, if true

[Zambero]

2. That is one eerie sump

Was there a few years ago and it reminded me of a compact version of Crater Lake, only with all signs of life removed. The water was a dark red-purple color, perhaps a mile across. The steep banks rising from the water's edge did not reveal any vegetation. The "tour guide" remarked that a flock of Canada geese had recently landed on the water and none had left alive. And it was noted that inflows exceeded evaporation, threatening the city's domestic water supply. Good to know that situation is being remedied.

[MontanaMama]

3. I'm very skeptical that the water is safe.

I know ARCO and the city of Butte are under the gun to do something about the rising water level in the pit before local groundwater is polluted...but damn. This is no run of the mill chemical laden water. Any bird that lands on the surface is DOA. I would not drink any of the treated water or let it touch my skin unless I saw upper management at ARCO guzzle a bunch of it after they showered in it for a good long time.

[Ptah]

4. I am optimistic that the job will be done right.