The EPA and environmental contractors responded to an accidental release of acidic, metal-laden water from the Gold King Mine into the Colorado River. Rain for Rent provided pumps, pipe, and other equipment to capture and treat the contaminated water in two phases. The first phase involved pumping water into settling ponds, raising the pH, and removing solids. The second phase bypassed water to weir ponds where settling and pH adjustment occurred before returning the water downstream. Rain for Rent's high head pumps overcame elevation changes to move water between sites for initial treatment and mitigation of further contamination.

1. Emergency Response Effort Treats
Water From Gold King Mine Spill
PROJECT SCOPE
Filtration
CLIENT
EPA and Environmental
Contractor
INDUSTRY SEGMENT
Mining
EQUIPMENT
• HH80 Pumps
• DV150i Pumps
• 2,600’ of 6” Pipe
• 600’ of Hose
LOCATION
Silverton, CO
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BACKGROUND
EPA contractors at the Gold King Mine in Colorado accidentally released three million
gallons of acidic water laden with heavy metals into the Colorado River system
affecting communities in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, requiring quick water
remediation. Treating the contaminated water quickly while managing the high flow of
the river to mitigate additional contamination was essential.
OUTCOME
Phase one remediation included capturing water from the mouth of the mine at
Upper Cement Creek into four settling ponds for initial emergency treatment to clarify
and raise the pH of the system. Rain for Rent provided two HH80 high head pumps, a
roll off box, hose, fittings, Spillguards, SolidGround®Traction Mats and PipeStax® for
the first emergency water treatment system. The water was diverted from the creek
into the system where the pH was raised and solids removed into a roll off box prior to
discharging clear water back into the river.
Phase two involved a bypass to move water from the Gold King Mine into temporary
weir ponds at the Red Bonita Mine where the solids could begin to settle out before
the water was sent back to Lower Cement Creek. Lime was added to the water at the
weir ponds to bring up the pH.
Rain for Rent provided a combination of 3-inch HH80 pumps, capable of flows up
to 450 GPM and heads up to 320 feet, and 6-inch DV150i pumps, capable of flows
up to 2,750 GPM and heads up to 195 feet, to overcome the elevation change and
move the water to the weir ponds at the Red Bonita Mine for initial treatment and
sediment settling. Rain for Rent also provided approximately half a mile of 6-inch pipe
11201503
PUMPS • TANKS • FILTRATION • PIPE • SPILLGUARDS 800 742 7246 rainforrent.com

2. and a combination of Spillguards, hose and fittings to move the water to the Red Bonita Mine and then back to the
Gold King Mine. A total of eight pumps provided a flow of approximately 1,200 GPM for the bypass.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The biggest challenge of the water
remediation effort was getting the
flow from the Gold King Mine to
weir ponds at the Red Bonita Mine,
which necessitated the water to be
pumped uphill. This required high
head pumps that could handle the
necessary head pressure and flow.
• Accessing the remote site with
multiple contractors on location
made maneuvering a challenge
when placing the equipment in
place.
• Working at an altitude of nearly
12,000 feet required Rain for
Rent’s Engineering department’s
help in selecting the right pumps
for the project to overcome
altitude issues.
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
The bypass performed successfully while the interim water treatment plant was installed. The primary emergency
response contractor and the EPA were very pleased with Rain for Rent’s pumps, bypass system and the team of
employees who worked on this project.