Performance of a wetland/anoxic limestone drain treatment system at the Douglas abandoned mine land project

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:588919

Sterner, P L; Cliff, J B; Skousen, J G; Sexstone, A J

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) exiting West Virginia`s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) sites often is remediated using passive treatment systems. A new passive treatment technology which employs a combination wetland/anoxic limestone drain (WALD) is currently being evaluated at one AML site near Thomas, WV. The WALD utilizes a three cell design to complete treatment. Cell 1 (dimensions 365.8m x 2.5m x 1.8m- L x W x D) employs a 0.6m base of limestone overlain by 1.2m of organic material. Cell 2 (dimensions 457.2m x 9.1m x 2.4m) employs a 1.5m limestone base overlain by 0.9m of organic material. Cell 3 (dimensions 25m x 9.1 in x 1.2m) is a sedimentation basin which allows deposition of precipitating metals. Thirteen polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinders with multiple ports were installed throughout the system so that water sampling at various locations and depths can be conducted. The working hypotheses to be tested is whether microbial iron reduction in organic sediments is sufficient to prevent limestone coating by iron oxyhydroxides, thus allowing continuous limestone dissolution and subsequent pH increase of the treated AMD. Influent water enters the system via surface flow at a rate of approximately 240 gpm from pipes draining an underground coal mine. Average influent AMD parameters over the study period were: pH = 3.0, total acidity = 426 mg/L, total alkalinity = 0 mg/L, total iron = 20 mg/L, total manganese = 6 mg/L and aluminum = 31 mg/L. Results based on effluent water quality indicate that AMD is being treated by the WALD.

• OSTI ID: 588919
• Report Number(s): CONF-9605286--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
COAL MINES
DISSOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
HYDROLYSIS
LIMESTONE
METALS
PH VALUE
REMEDIAL ACTION
SEDIMENTS
WATER QUALITY
WETLANDS