ARCO feuds with rural residents over bottled water program
YERINGTON – Members of the Paiute Tribe whose well water has been contaminated with high levels of uranium may soon lose their source of free bottled drinking water.
The tribe is about 2 miles north of the abandoned Anaconda Copper Mine, byproducts of the copper-mining process from the mine are responsible for contaminating the surrounding soil and groundwater with a toxic stew of uranium, arsenic and other toxins, according to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.
Uranium— which can increase cancer and damage kidneys— was found in domestic wells being used for drinking water, after testing by the EPA. Since then, Atlantic Richfield Co., owner of the former Anaconda Copper Mine, began providing bottled water for 119 homes dependent on that well water while state and federal agencies evaluated whether the spike in uranium was caused by contamination from the Anaconda site or other sources.
The evaluation, ongoing since 2004, is expected to be completed by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) this year at which point the department will determine whether or not to discontinue bottled water delivery.
Read more: https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2019/07/01/arco-feuds-with-rural-residents-over-bottled-water-program/