Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia

Nakia Belmer; Ian Alexander Wright

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13

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Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright

Published in American Journal of Water Science and Engineering (Volume 5, Issue 2)

Received: 19 April 2019 Accepted: 29 May 2019 Published: 1 July 2019

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Abstract

This study investigates macroinvertebrates from waterways receiving wastewater from coal mines in the Sydney Basin. Three of the coal mines were inactively mining oar and four actively mining oar during sampling. Macroinvertebrates were collected from each collieries receiving waterway upstream and downstream of all mine wastewater inflows. All the coal mines wastewater discharges are licensed and regulated by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA). Results of the study show that the coal mine wastewaters being discharged are having varying negative impacts to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem through macroinvertebrate biotic indices, despite whether mining is active or inactive. Biotic indices measured at active and inactive coal mines show that actively mined wastewaters are most likely causing less of an impact to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem than inactively mined wastewaters. All the waterways receiving un-treated (inactively mining) wastewaters recorded statistical differences for all biotic indices when analysed between their upstream and downstream sample locations. This was in contrasted to the actively mined (treated wastewaters) with only one of the streams sampled recording statistical differences for all biotic indices. Results suggest that once mining ceases and the treatment of the coal mine wastewaters subsequently ceases the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem are clearly more degraded. This is of great concern as once mining ceases so does the treatment of their wastewaters. It is recommended that the NSW EPA further investigate measures of treatment post coal mining at these mines to ensure further degradation of the receiving waterways ecosystem does not occur.

Published in	American Journal of Water Science and Engineering (Volume 5, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13
Page(s)	62-75
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Coal Mine Wastewater, Coal Mining, Environmental Management, Coal Mine Regulation, Active Mines, Inactive Mines

References

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APA Style

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright. (2019). Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. American Journal of Water Science and Engineering, 5(2), 62-75. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13

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ACS Style

Nakia Belmer; Ian Alexander Wright. Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. Am. J. Water Sci. Eng. 2019, 5(2), 62-75. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13

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AMA Style

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright. Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. Am J Water Sci Eng. 2019;5(2):62-75. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13,
  author = {Nakia Belmer and Ian Alexander Wright},
  title = {Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia},
  journal = {American Journal of Water Science and Engineering},
  volume = {5},
  number = {2},
  pages = {62-75},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajwse.20190502.13},
  abstract = {This study investigates macroinvertebrates from waterways receiving wastewater from coal mines in the Sydney Basin. Three of the coal mines were inactively mining oar and four actively mining oar during sampling. Macroinvertebrates were collected from each collieries receiving waterway upstream and downstream of all mine wastewater inflows. All the coal mines wastewater discharges are licensed and regulated by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA). Results of the study show that the coal mine wastewaters being discharged are having varying negative impacts to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem through macroinvertebrate biotic indices, despite whether mining is active or inactive. Biotic indices measured at active and inactive coal mines show that actively mined wastewaters are most likely causing less of an impact to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem than inactively mined wastewaters. All the waterways receiving un-treated (inactively mining) wastewaters recorded statistical differences for all biotic indices when analysed between their upstream and downstream sample locations. This was in contrasted to the actively mined (treated wastewaters) with only one of the streams sampled recording statistical differences for all biotic indices. Results suggest that once mining ceases and the treatment of the coal mine wastewaters subsequently ceases the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem are clearly more degraded. This is of great concern as once mining ceases so does the treatment of their wastewaters. It is recommended that the NSW EPA further investigate measures of treatment post coal mining at these mines to ensure further degradation of the receiving waterways ecosystem does not occur.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia
AU  - Nakia Belmer
AU  - Ian Alexander Wright
Y1  - 2019/07/01
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13
T2  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
SP  - 62
EP  - 75
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1875
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13
AB  - This study investigates macroinvertebrates from waterways receiving wastewater from coal mines in the Sydney Basin. Three of the coal mines were inactively mining oar and four actively mining oar during sampling. Macroinvertebrates were collected from each collieries receiving waterway upstream and downstream of all mine wastewater inflows. All the coal mines wastewater discharges are licensed and regulated by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA). Results of the study show that the coal mine wastewaters being discharged are having varying negative impacts to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem through macroinvertebrate biotic indices, despite whether mining is active or inactive. Biotic indices measured at active and inactive coal mines show that actively mined wastewaters are most likely causing less of an impact to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem than inactively mined wastewaters. All the waterways receiving un-treated (inactively mining) wastewaters recorded statistical differences for all biotic indices when analysed between their upstream and downstream sample locations. This was in contrasted to the actively mined (treated wastewaters) with only one of the streams sampled recording statistical differences for all biotic indices. Results suggest that once mining ceases and the treatment of the coal mine wastewaters subsequently ceases the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem are clearly more degraded. This is of great concern as once mining ceases so does the treatment of their wastewaters. It is recommended that the NSW EPA further investigate measures of treatment post coal mining at these mines to ensure further degradation of the receiving waterways ecosystem does not occur.
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Nakia Belmer

School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia
Ian Alexander Wright

School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia

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APA Style

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright. (2019). Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. American Journal of Water Science and Engineering, 5(2), 62-75. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13

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ACS Style

Nakia Belmer; Ian Alexander Wright. Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. Am. J. Water Sci. Eng. 2019, 5(2), 62-75. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13

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AMA Style

Nakia Belmer, Ian Alexander Wright. Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia. Am J Water Sci Eng. 2019;5(2):62-75. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13,
  author = {Nakia Belmer and Ian Alexander Wright},
  title = {Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia},
  journal = {American Journal of Water Science and Engineering},
  volume = {5},
  number = {2},
  pages = {62-75},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajwse.20190502.13},
  abstract = {This study investigates macroinvertebrates from waterways receiving wastewater from coal mines in the Sydney Basin. Three of the coal mines were inactively mining oar and four actively mining oar during sampling. Macroinvertebrates were collected from each collieries receiving waterway upstream and downstream of all mine wastewater inflows. All the coal mines wastewater discharges are licensed and regulated by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA). Results of the study show that the coal mine wastewaters being discharged are having varying negative impacts to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem through macroinvertebrate biotic indices, despite whether mining is active or inactive. Biotic indices measured at active and inactive coal mines show that actively mined wastewaters are most likely causing less of an impact to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem than inactively mined wastewaters. All the waterways receiving un-treated (inactively mining) wastewaters recorded statistical differences for all biotic indices when analysed between their upstream and downstream sample locations. This was in contrasted to the actively mined (treated wastewaters) with only one of the streams sampled recording statistical differences for all biotic indices. Results suggest that once mining ceases and the treatment of the coal mine wastewaters subsequently ceases the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem are clearly more degraded. This is of great concern as once mining ceases so does the treatment of their wastewaters. It is recommended that the NSW EPA further investigate measures of treatment post coal mining at these mines to ensure further degradation of the receiving waterways ecosystem does not occur.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Regional Comparison of Impacts to Stream Macroinvertebrates from Active and Inactive Coal Mine Wastewater Discharges, Sydney Basin, New South Wales Australia
AU  - Nakia Belmer
AU  - Ian Alexander Wright
Y1  - 2019/07/01
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13
T2  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering
SP  - 62
EP  - 75
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1875
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20190502.13
AB  - This study investigates macroinvertebrates from waterways receiving wastewater from coal mines in the Sydney Basin. Three of the coal mines were inactively mining oar and four actively mining oar during sampling. Macroinvertebrates were collected from each collieries receiving waterway upstream and downstream of all mine wastewater inflows. All the coal mines wastewater discharges are licensed and regulated by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA). Results of the study show that the coal mine wastewaters being discharged are having varying negative impacts to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem through macroinvertebrate biotic indices, despite whether mining is active or inactive. Biotic indices measured at active and inactive coal mines show that actively mined wastewaters are most likely causing less of an impact to the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem than inactively mined wastewaters. All the waterways receiving un-treated (inactively mining) wastewaters recorded statistical differences for all biotic indices when analysed between their upstream and downstream sample locations. This was in contrasted to the actively mined (treated wastewaters) with only one of the streams sampled recording statistical differences for all biotic indices. Results suggest that once mining ceases and the treatment of the coal mine wastewaters subsequently ceases the receiving waterways aquatic ecosystem are clearly more degraded. This is of great concern as once mining ceases so does the treatment of their wastewaters. It is recommended that the NSW EPA further investigate measures of treatment post coal mining at these mines to ensure further degradation of the receiving waterways ecosystem does not occur.
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
ER  -

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