Hydrology of Area 3: Eastern Coal Province, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6098398

Herb, W J; Shaw, L C; Brown, D E

The Eastern Coal Province is divided into 24 hydrologic reporting areas. The divisions are based upon hydrologic factors, location, size, and mining activity. Hydrologic units (drainage basins) or parts of units are combined to form each area. Area 3 is located in the northern part of the Eastern Coal Province in the lower Allegheny River basin and covers an area of 4077 square miles. Area reports are designed to be useful to mining companies, their consultants, and regulatory authorities by presenting information concerning existing hydrologic conditions and identifying additional sources of hydrologic information. The hydrology of the area is presented in the format of a brief text and accompanying illustration(s) on a single water-resource related topic. A special network was established to collect hydrologic data in coal-bearing areas. Seventy-three monitoring stations (synoptic sites) were established in Area 3. Water samples are collected at these sites two or three times annually. Samples are analyzed for specific conductance, pH, acidity, alkalinity, dissolved and total iron, dissolved and total manganese, dissolved sulfate, residue on evaporation, and other properties. Similar samples are collected at six gaging stations 6 to 9 times annually. Streams indicating acid-mine drainage were most common in the Redbank and Blacklick Creek basins, and the Conemaugh and lower Kiskiminetas River basins. Sixteen of the 73 synoptic sites had pH, acidity-alkalinity, total iron, total manganese, and dissolved sulfate which all were indicative of acid-mine drainage. When all synoptic sites in Area 3 were considered, there was a close relationship between specific conductance and dissolved solids. Sampling at other water-quality stations indicated that specific conductance, pH, iron, manganese, and sulfate can show considerable variability from stream to stream, and with time for a single stream. 29 references, 29 figures, 12 tables.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Harrisburg, PA (USA). Water Resources Div.
• OSTI ID: 6098398
• Report Number(s): USGS/WRI/OFR-81-537; ON: TI85901083
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
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58 GEOSCIENCES
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ACID MINE DRAINAGE
COAL DEPOSITS
DATA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION III
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
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NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PENNSYLVANIA
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SURFACE WATERS
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WATER QUALITY