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<br /> <br />Estimates of the impact on water quality of the Purgatoire River due to capillary <br />rise of water into the waste pile were presented in the previous paragraphs. Even under <br />the worst case situation of very rapid drainage, which is very unlikely to occur, the <br />change in TDS of the river water is only approximately 18 mg/1. Amore realistic <br />assumption of a drainage time of one year results in a TDS increase of about 3 mg/1. This <br />amount is probably conservative since it is assumed that the entire volume of water that <br />rises into the waste pile drains. Because of the "capillary barrier" effects of the <br />underlying gravels, it is very unlikely the entire volume would drain from the pile. <br />* McWhorter, D.B., and Nelson, J.D., 1978. "Seepage in the Partially Saturated Zone <br />Beneath Tailings Impoundments", Soc. of Mining Engr. of AIMS, Preprint Number 78-AG- <br />306, Sep., 11 pp. <br />