In 1937, Hodge described the detrimental effects of mine drainage: "...the acid water caused excessive corrosion of the federal navigation locks and dams, ships and barges, bridges and culverts, pipelines and plumbing. The acid, iron sulfate, and iron oxide (red water) often destroyed all fish and aquatic life, interfered with nature’s self-purification of the streams sometimes perhaps favorably, in other cases detrimentally, made water unfit for drinking or household purposes, and caused unsightly reddish brown spots on fabrics in laundries and textile factories and scum in washbowls, sinks and tubs. The water was destructive, scale forming, and unsuitable for use in locomotive and power plant boilers, in manufacturing industries, and in municipal waterworks..." (Hodge,1937).

In areas where surface and groundwater have been contaminated by mine drainage, treatment of water supplies becomes more difficult, more time consuming, and more expensive.

References

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