Putting Corporate Social Responsibility to Work in Mining Communities: Exploring Community Needs for Central Appalachian Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Due to the finite nature of non-renewable mineral and energy resources such as coal, resource extraction is inherently unsustainable; however, mining and related activities can contribute to sustainable development. Indeed, the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) require that mine operators design and conduct their activities in ways that provide for net positive impacts on surrounding communities and environments. In Central Appalachia, there appears to be a particularly ripe opportunity for the coal industry to put CSR to work: participation in sustainable solutions to the long-standing problem of inadequately treated wastewater discharges-which not only represent a potential human health hazard, but also contribute to the relatively high incidence of bacterial impairments in surface waters in the region. In this paper, we outline the underlying factors of this problem and the advantages of industry-aided solutions in a region where limited economic and technical resources are not always aligned with social and environmental needs. We also suggest a framework for problem-solving, which necessarily involves all interested stakeholders, and identify the primary challenges that must be overcome in pursuit of sustainable solutions.

Water Scavenging from Roadside Springs in Appalachia

“…For example, low population densities generally preclude the development of centralized wastewater treatment, but because of the thin soils and karstic geology of the region, septic systems are often inappropriate or prone to failure. Consequently, some residents simply “straight pipe” their household wastewater, i.e., all grey and blackwater is simply piped to an open‐air ditch and directed into nearby surface water (Banks et al ; Cook et al ; Lilly et al ). The discharge of untreated wastewater is technically illegal, but this not uncommon strategy is not formally inventoried by water quality or public health managers.…”

Environmental health disparities in the Central Appalachian region of the United States

“…Narrow valleys and thin topsoil layers render traditional septic systems impractical for some locales; consequently, in the absence of municipal wastewater service or other affordable alternatives, some homes simply "straight pipe" household wastewater to nearby streams, i.e. untreated household wastewater passes directly into adjacent ditches and surface waterways [92,93]. As straight pipes are technically illegal, this practice is difficult to quantify, although a report on environmental quality in Letcher County, Kentucky, estimated that as many as 3000 straight pipes serve up to 12,000 county residents [94].…”

Springing for Safe Water: Drinking Water Quality and Source Selection in Central Appalachian Communities

“…Forty-two percent of the population in Appalachia is considered rural, over twice the average for the United States of 20% [11]. Essential infrastructure for water systems and utilities is limited by social, geographic, and economic challenges in some Appalachian communities [12,13]. In the Central Appalachian region in particular, more than 10% of homes in several counties are without access to in-home drinking water [14].…”