Orange streak develops on Monongahela River
A large orange streak on the Monongahela River developed in the Monongahela area Saturday. A DEP spokesman said the discoloration was caused by water from an abandoned mine pool.
A large orange streak on the Monongahela River developed in the Monongahela area Saturday. A DEP spokesman said the discoloration was caused by water from an abandoned mine pool.
MONONGAHELA – The state Department of Environmental Protection is taking water samples downstream of a large orange streak on the Monongahela River that developed in the Monongahela area Saturday.
The discoloration is caused by water from an abandoned mine pool draining into a pipe that pours into a stream leading to the river in Forward Township, Allegheny County DEP spokesman Neil Shader said.
“The water is thought to contain iron, aluminum and manganese, which accounts for the orange discoloration,” Shader said.
He said the Allegheny County Health Department and public water intake systems were notified, even though the water providers have systems in place to remove the contaminants.