By Daisy Vargas

Current information from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) suggests that Arizona will not be affected by the Animas River Spill from Gold King Mine.

On August 5, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with Missouri-based Environmental Restoration LLC, were expected to pump out and treat contaminated water from the Gold King Mine. When EPA workers were attempting to enter the inactive mine, a massive leak sprung.

The Gold King Mine Spill affected Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Two rivers were affected in these states; the Animas River in Colorado and the San Juan River in New Mexico. These two rivers alone are the source of five different water supply systems.

The toxic water discharged from Gold King Mine turned the two rivers a bright orange color. Recent water samples confirm that 12,000 times the normal amount of lead was found in both rivers. Lead is unfortunately not the only potentially hazardous heavy metal released from the mine.  The water in the Animas and San Juan Rivers contain high levels of arsenic, cadmium, beryllium, mercury, zinc, iron, and copper.

The contaminated water has affected thousands of people who reside near the area, but the spill had its greatest impact on the farming community. 750 farmers near the affected area rely on the rivers to irrigate their crops.

It was initially believed that the spill totaled a million gallons. EPA officials now estimate that the Gold King Mine discharged three-million gallons, and is continuing to discharge 500 gallons per minute.

The ADEQ has sent a team of water quality monitoring professionals to conduct sampling from the Glenn Canyon Dam at Lake Powell. Though the ADEQ does not believe the Gold King Mine Spill will affect Arizonans in any way, further tests will be done to ensure safe surface, ground, and drinking water for Arizona.

Daisy Vargas is a writer with a passion for all things green. In the fall, she will resume her attendance at Smith College.