A study has found 91% of US coal-fired power plants have contaminated local groundwater. The Environmental Integrity Project used industry coal ash data, made available last year due to regulations introduced in 2015, which revealed 52% of 265 coal plants had unsafe levels of arsenic in nearby groundwater, while 60% had unsafe levels of lithium. In the US, there are currently more than 100 active lawsuits against major energy companies for polluting groundwater with toxic chemicals. The study urged the Environmental Protection Agency to implement better regulation and step up monitoring.
A study has found 91% of US coal-fired power plants have contaminated local groundwater. The Environmental Integrity Project used industry coal ash data, made available last year due to regulations introduced in 2015, which revealed 52% of 265 coal plants had unsafe levels of arsenic in nearby groundwater, while 60% had unsafe levels of lithium. Fewer than 5% of coal ash waste ponds had adequate, leak-proof liners, while 59% were built either under the water table or within five feet of one. The study urged the Environmental Protection Agency to implement better regulation and step up monitoring.