1988-06-17_REPORT - C1981012 (2)

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CONSUMPTIVE WATER USE Water removed from the Purgatoire River for use in the mines is dependant upon the coal production rate. Usage rates for consumptive uses are as follows : Continuous Miner 5. 85 gallons/raw ton Longwall 17. 72 gallons/raw ton Prep Plant 20. 10 gallons/raw ton During 1987 , no coal was produced at the New Elk Mine, 120, 000 tons were produced at the Golden Eagle Mine, and 51, 600 tons were processed through the prep plant . All coal was produced by continuous miner. Using the above consumptive rates, 2 . 2 acre-feet were used for mining at the Golden Eagle and 3. 2 acre-feet were used in the prep plant . Metering of water taken at the New Elk Mine for domestic use was calculated at 0. 7 acre-feet for 1987. Total water consumed from the Purgatoire during 1987 is calculated at 6. 1 acre-feet. All domestic water utilized at the Golden Eagle Mine is supplies by the City of Trinidad ' s water line. Total water use estimate is based on employment of 150 people and 100 gallons per day per person. Daily water use would be 15, 000 gallons per operating day. All of this water is passed through the domestic system, treated in the sewage treatment plant and discharged to the Purgatoire system. Assuming that the mine operates 260 days per year and that 10 percent of this water is consumed, water gain to the Purgatoire would be approximately 11 acre-feet per year. Water produced during mining is pumped to the surface, clarified and discharged to the Purgatoire. Estimated water inflow ( see Appendix 3) is 123 gallons per minute at the New Elk and 45. 4 gallons per minute at the Golden Eagle. On a constant basis, this