Coal Ash Likely cause of Water Contamination in Wisconsin

December 9, 2014- Coal ash could be contaminating drinking water in southeastern Wisconsin, says a new report published by environmental group Clean Wisconsin.

The study looked at the levels of molybendum, an element in coal ash, in about 1,000 drinking water wells in southeast Wisconsin. The report says that 23 percent of the wells had “high” levels of molybdenum and 22 percent had levels that were “very high” -- high enough that they exceeded the Wisconsin Health Advisory Limit for the element.

Coal ash is a toxic waste product created by burning coal and is a likely culprit for the elevated levels of molybdenum, an element that has been linked to a gout-like disease.

In Wisconsin, 85 percent of the 1.8 million tons of coal ash produced by coal plants each year is reused, acting as a filler below roads and buildings. According to the study, drinking water wells that were closer to coal ash reuse sites had a higher risk of elevated molybdenum levels.

Read the full thinkprogress.org here.

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