Tainted water keeps uranium mine closed

Tainted water keeps uranium mine closed

Washington (Platts)--26Mar2004

Energy Resources of Australia's (ERA) Ranger uranium mine remained closed today as investigations continued into the switching of the potable water and the process water lines at the facility. ERA reported earlier in the week that employees coming off the night shift noticed the reduction in water quality while showering. The water in the shower was found to contain elevated levels of uranium and higher acidity, ERA said. Six workers have reported some mild symptoms as a result of the water mix-up. ERA also reported today that there was an overflow of water March 23 from a holding tank about a kilometer from the airport on land that ERA leases. That water, too, is believed to have contained elevated uranium levels four times the safe drinking water guideline, ERA said.