According to the company, storm water overflow after excessive rains from Hurricane Odile caused toxic water from the Buenavista copper mine to leach into some creeks and streams, the company said in a statement Sunday. It said it contained the spill with pumps and suction.
According to the Yuccatan News, Mexico’s top environmental official accused the mining company last month of lying about an early August spill of millions of gallons of acids and heavy metals that contaminated two rivers and a dam downstream. Officials have said the company also lied about the measures it took to control the effects.
The Yuccatan News reports that while the company blamed heavy rains for the overflow of containment ponds, but officials have said lax supervision at the mine and construction defects appeared to have caused about 10 million gallons (40,000 cubic meters) of copper sulfate and heavy metals to flow into the rivers.
On September 20th, water measurements conducted by the Company, reported normal acidity levels in the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers.