An ash pond, also called a coal ash basin or surface impoundment,[1] is an engineered structure used at coal-fired power stations for the disposal of two types of coal combustion products: bottom ash and fly ash. The pond is used as a landfill to prevent the release of ash into the atmosphere. Although the use of ash ponds in combination with air pollution controls (such as wet scrubbers) decreases the amount of airborne pollutants, the structures pose serious health risks for the surrounding environment.[2]
Ash ponds use gravity to settle out large particulates (measured as total suspended solids) from power plant wastewater. This technology does not treat dissolved pollutants.[3] The ponds generally have not been built as lined landfills, and therefore chemicals in the ash can leach into groundwater and surface waters, accumulating in the biomass of the system.[4][5][6]
- ^ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, D.C. "Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Identification and Listing of Special Wastes; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities." Proposed rule. Federal Register, 75 FR 35130, June 21, 2010.
- ^ Erickson, Camille (October 7, 2019). "Mixing water, Powder River Basin coal ash dangerous to human health, new research finds". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, WY.
- ^ "Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category". EPA. 2018-11-30.
- ^ Brooke, Nelson (June 5, 2019). "New Interactive Maps of Groundwater Pollution Reveal Threats Posed by Alabama Power Coal Ash Pits". Black Warrior Riverkeeper. Birmingham, AL.
- ^ Springer, Patrick (March 13, 2019). "Report: Unsafe coal ash contamination found in North Dakota groundwater". Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, ND.
- ^ Tosheff, Taylor (2019-07-31). "York: Brunner Island power plant owners agree to $1M penalty, coal ash cleanup". Harrisburg, PA: ABC27 News.