Coal Slurry Spills Continue to Contaminate W.Va., N.C. Waterways [Photo Gallery]

Feb. 19, 2014

In Appalachia and the Illinois Basin, coal companies use a process called "wet washing" to reduce the amount of non-combustible material.  There are other methods of separating coal and non-coal used in other places, primarily where mining occurs in arid areas with limited water supplies. 

In a wet washing plant, or coal preparation plant, the raw coal is crushed and mixed with a large amount of water, magnetite and organic chemicals.  The chemicals are primarily patented surfactants, designed to separate clays from the coal, and flocculants, designed to make small particle clump together. 

The huge volume of waste water left over is coal slurry.  The slurry is composed of particles of rock, clay and coal too small to float or sink as well as all the chemicals used to wash the coal.  While the coal industry likes to claim that the particles of "natural rock strata" and chemicals are perfectly safe, testing has shown coal slurry to be highly toxic.

This is what happens when pipes rupture or containment basins leak. To read more about recent incidents in West Virginia and North Carolina, see the article, "Coal Slurry Catastrophes Continue: West Virginia Hit With Another Environmental Emergency."

(All photos used with permission from Appalachian Voices, an award-winning, environmental non-profit committed to protecting the land, air and water of the central and southern Appalachian region, focusing on reducing coal’s impact on the region and advancing a vision for a cleaner energy future.)

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 23, 2025
With the right workplace health and safety training, your organization can reduce risk and protect your employees.
June 23, 2025
This article covers the key steps to build a reliable SDS management program, from organizing your inventory and sourcing updated SDS to ensuring easy access and regular maintenance...
June 23, 2025
It's time to get a bit more granular and start to examine the types of metrics EHS departments should be tracking, starting with lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR).
June 23, 2025
With the number of lone workers on the rise, here are five facts every employer should know about lone working.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!