Water and related problems in coal-mine areas of Alabama

Water-resource problems or potential problems in Alabama resulting from surface and subsurface coal mining include erosion and sedimentation, flooding, diversion of drainage, decline in water level, land subsidence, and the degradation of water quality. The degradation of water quality is the most serious and widespread coal-mine related problem in Alabama. The chemical quality of water in numerous streams draining coal-mine areas has been altered drastically. The pH of water draining from mined areas commonly ranges from 2.1 to 5.0, generally has high sulfate and dissolved solids concentrations, is hard to very hard, and may contain objectionable amounts of iron. The detrimental quality of water in some streams may persist for decades after mining has ceased. Without proper safeguards, additional mining may cause a significant deterioration in the quality of water in major streams where the more mineralized mine waters are now diluted. (Woodard-USGS)