Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Effects of surface coal mining and reclamation on ground water in small watersheds in the Allegheny Plateau, Ohio

Book ·
OSTI ID:6672370
;
The aquifer system at each watershed consisted of two localized perched aquifers above a deeper, more regional aquifer. The pre-mining top aquifer was destroyed by mining in each case, and was replaced by spoils during reclamation. The spoils formed new top aquifers that were slowly becoming resaturated at the end of the study period. Water levels in the middle aquifers were about the same after reclamation as before mining, although levels rose in a few places. It appears that the underclay at the base of the new top aquifers at all three sites prevents significant downward leakage from the top aquifer to lower aquifers except in places where the layer may have been damaged during mining. Water in the new top aquifers is a calcium sulfate type, whereas calcium bicarbonate type water predominated before mining. The median specific conductance of water in the new top aquifers was about 5 times > that of the original top aquifers in two of the watersheds, and 1-1/2 times the level of the original top aquifer in the third. Concentrations of dissolved sulfate, iron, and manganese in the top aquifers before mining generally did not exceed US and Ohio EPA drinking water limits, but generally exceeded these limits after reclamation. Water quality changes in the middle aquifers were minor by comparison. Water levels and water quality in the deeper, regional aquifers were unaffected by mining. 20 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.
OSTI ID:
6672370
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Preliminary observation of surface-mine impacts on ground water in two small watersheds in eastern Ohio
Conference · Sun Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1980 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States) · OSTI ID:5409281
Ground-water hydrology before, during, and after coal strip mining of a small watershed in Coshocton County, Ohio
Technical Report · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1982 · OSTI ID:5879299
Impact of surface mining and reclamation upon hydrology and water quality of two small watersheds in Ohio
Conference · Tue Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1982 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States) · OSTI ID:5473661

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AQUIFERS
COAL MINING
CONTAMINATION
CONTROL
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEDERAL REGION V
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
IRON
LAND RECLAMATION
MANGANESE
METALS
MINING
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATERSHEDS