An analysis of the effectiveness of a constructed wetland treating acid mine drainage

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:37460

Huddleston, III, G M; Grant, A J; Ramey, B A ^[1]

---

1. Eastern Kentucky Univ., Richmond, KY (United States)

Acid mine drainage (AMD) from an abandoned coal mine in southcentral Kentucky had pH levels as low as 2.3 and iron concentrations as high as 641 mg/L. In the summer of 1992, the US Soil Conservation Service constructed a wetland system to treat the AMD that incorporated both physical and biological treatments. The AMD was initially fed into three anoxic limestone beds followed by an aeration pond and four cattail cells. A polishing pond served as the final stage of treatment. Flow of AMD was initiated in the fall of 1992, and treatment effectiveness was monitored for the next year. Chemical analysis and the cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia) survival and reproduction test were performed on water samples collected along the flow path. Water chemistry analysis and determination of toxic levels indicated a substantial increase in pH and removal of metals prior to entering the cattail cells. Water quality in the cattail cells and polishing pond varied throughout the seasons, but had improved substantially by the end of the one-year monitoring period. The use of the wetland system by macroinvertebrates also was evaluated. Results indicated that a limited number of species were found in the cattail cells, while larger numbers were recovered from the polishing pond.

• OSTI ID: 37460
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ABANDONED SHAFTS
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
BIODEGRADATION
CONSTRUCTION
KENTUCKY
METALS
PH VALUE
PLANTS
REMOVAL
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WETLANDS