Study confirms oilsands tailings seeping into Athabasca River

Environment Canada research has confirmed that water from vast oilsands tailings ponds is leaching into groundwater and seeping into the Athabasca River.

By The Canadian Press: February 20, 2014

New federal research has confirmed that water from vast oilsands tailings ponds is leaching into groundwater and seeping into the Athabasca River.

Previous studies using models have estimated the leakage at 6.5 million litres a day from a single pond.

But the Environment Canada study used new technology to actually fingerprint the mix of groundwater chemicals in the area.

It found the mix of chemicals from tailings is different from that in naturally occurring bitumen deposits.

That tailings mix, which contains toxic chemicals, is found in groundwater around mining operations, but not in areas away from development.

It’s also found in groundwater just underneath the Athabasca River.

(read the full article at The Star)