THE INFLUENCE OF COAL QUALITY VARIATION ON UTILIZATION OF WATER FROM ABANDONED COAL MINES AS A MUNICIPAL WATER SOURCE

As population increases and high quality water becomes more difficult to obtain, many communities will seek alternative water supply sources. Some municipalities have realized that they have a reservoir of unexploited water readily available in abandoned underground coal mines. Analysis of the mine’s history, the quality of the coal and water that reside within the mine, and knowledge of local hydrology, geology, and mine chemistry will provide communities with the information they need to determine the best mine sites to use.