Animas River reopens in San Juan County

Advisories were put in place after federal contractors breached a wall blocking waste from the decommissioned Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colo., last week.

“If it tastes amusing, they don’t use it”, Anthony said. “My hope is this has embarrassed the hell out of them and they’re going to finally take it seriously”.

The river was shut down after the EPA accidentally released three million gallons of mining waste from a site in Colorado into the river.

“For 14 years I have been very vocal warning the public that the situation with the Sunnyside Gold Mine in Silverton”, said Hennis.

Recreational river-goers are still encouraged to bring their own water and not filter river water to drink.

David Charters, a scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental response team, said dilution likely helped prevent major problems such as fish and insect deaths. More than 38,000 await further analysis or work, according to the bureau.

In Colorado alone, there are hundreds, possibly thousands of abandoned mines discharging acid rock drainage, Jamison said. 3 million gallons of mine waste containing heavy metals was unleashed. Each surface water sample was analyzed for metals including arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.

Testing shows the heavy metal levels that spiked in the days following the spill have since fallen below risky levels.

Colorado’s stretch of the river reopened Friday to rafting and kayaking – an important part of the region’s tourist economy. The rivers also can be used for recreation, the officials said.

“These estimates suggest that the plume first arrived in Lake Powell somewhere between Wednesday night and Thursday morning”, according to the release.

San Juan County officials have lifted the ban on use of the Animas and San Juan rivers while residents of the Navajo Nation are advised to refrain from using river water for irrigation and livestock. Water quality data also showed the “water now meets the criteria for agricultural purposes established by the state of Colorado”, the official added. She also recommended taking extra care not to ingest the untreated water.

An unspecified variety of residents dwelling downstream of the spill who draw their consuming provides from their personal wells have reported water discoloration, however there was no quick proof of hurt to human well being, livestock or wildlife, in accordance with EPA officers.