Kennecott Utah Copper
Kennecott Utah Copper, in consultation with the community and regulatory authorities, is successfully addressing groundwater contamination associated with historical mining practices in the southwestern Jordan Valley of Utah, near Salt Lake City.
Large scale copper mining in the Jordan Valley commenced in 1904. Seepage from water storage ponds and waste rock piles over several decades created acidic groundwater contamination with highly elevated sulphate and heavy metal concentrations.
Kennecott has developed an extensive containment programme to prevent contamination entering groundwater. Work also aims to contain the groundwater already contaminated and to treat the affected water for drinking and irrigation use. These measures are designed to achieve a sustainable water management that meets the needs of regulators, the community and the company.
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