Pollution from a factory. Credit: Reuters

Power plants across Texas are leaching toxins into groundwater, according to new research. A report released this week from the Environmental Integrity Project found that all of the state’s 16 coal-fired power plants are leaching contaminants from coal ash into the ground, and almost none of the plants are properly lining their pits to prevent leakage.

“We found contamination everywhere we looked, poisoning groundwater aquifers and recreational fishing spots across the state,” EIP attorney and report co-author Abel Russ told the Texas Tribune. “This confirms that dumping large volumes of toxic waste in poorly-lined pits is a terrible idea.”

As reported by the Texas Observer:

“While power plants’ propensity to foul nearby air is well-documented, the danger of coal ash dumping has seen much less play in the news media.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has loosened coal ash dumping rules, relaxing pollution thresholds for certain contaminants and allowing states to waive some groundwater monitoring requirements. The […]