Mine waters got into treatment facilities of Sibay due to accident at UGOK mine

UFA, 21 August 2019. /Bashinform News Agency, Gulfiya Akulova/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/.

On July 24, an accident occurred at the Sibay Underground Mine, as a result of which mine waters were dumped into the treatment facilities of the city. Significant pollution of wastewater was reported at a briefing session in the city hall only on August 19.

Tahir Mullodzhanov, director of “Sibayvodokanal”, said that as a result of a water accident at the mine of the Uchalinsky mining and processing plant, wastewaters were discharged into the river, which exceeded all maximum permissible concentrations.

“The wastewaters that got into the treatment facilities of the city water utility was bright yellow. The copper concentration was fixed 200 times higher than the standard, the concentration of manganese was also about 200 times, the concentration of sulfate ions - 10 times, the concentration of iron - 10 thousand times”, he said. “Those facilities that we have for household wastewater did not cope with this. As a result, a certain amount of substances was dumped into the river, though not of such terrible concentrations. The excess was 10 times".

Due to the toxic effect of salts of iron, manganese, heavy metals in the river, almost the entire biologically active environment died, only bacteria survived. It will take about three months to restore the healthy environment, the director of Sibaivodokanal said.

At present, the accident at the mine has been liquidated; the sewage waters have returned to normal. The situation improved, it was noted at the meeting.

UGOK was imposed fine for water pollution. Preliminary damage is estimated at 5-10 million rubles.