Passive Treatment Systems
The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition has been actively engaged in the treatment of abandoned mine drainage and restoring mine lands within the Slippery Rock Creek watershed. Through public-private partnership efforts the Coalition has installed over 20 passive treatment systems, successfully treating over 1.5 billion gallons of mine drainage each year. Using only environmentally-friendly materials, such as limestone aggregate and compost, passive treatment systems provide a cost effective alternative to the harsh chemicals of active treatment. These systems remove the acidity from the drainage causing the metals to precipitate within settling ponds. Metal particulates remaining suspended in the treated effluent are removed by naturally functioning wetlands.
The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition has partnered with Stream Restoration Inc. to document the projects within the watershed. In 2002, an internet-based database called Datashed was developed to assist in the operation and maintenance of these treatment system. Below is a list of projects completed within the watershed and their links to Datashed, which provides additional information, such as as-built plans, schematics, photos, water quality data, and more.
| Title |
Year Constructed
|
AMD Treated (Gallons/Year)
|
Total Cost
|
| Big Bertha (SR94) |
1995
|
N/A
|
$30,000.00
|
| Slippery Rock Elementary Wetland |
1995
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| SR 114 |
1995
|
135,428,303
|
N/A
|
| Barkley Road (Moraine) Treatment System |
1996
|
24,863,281
|
N/A
|
| Ferris Passive Treatment System Complex |
1997
|
N/A
|
$151,000.00
|
| Jennings |
1997
|
17,870,400
|
$125,780.00
|
| SR 101A |
1998
|
29,583,771
|
$82,000.00
|
| SR 109 |
1998
|
13,440,343
|
$55,000.00
|
| De Sale Phase I |
2000
|
39,814,200
|
$391,000.00
|
| De Sale Phase II |
2000
|
75,160,800
|
$449,342.00
|
| Goff Station Restoration Area |
2000
|
135,289,440
|
$840,751.00
|
| SR 89 |
2000
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| SR 96 |
2001
|
9,636,000
|
$50,000.00
|
| Argentine Central SR115 |
2002
|
262,800,000
|
$267,541.00
|
| De Sale Phase III |
2002
|
12,210,092
|
$186,000.00
|
| SR 81 – Abandoned Mine Restoration Area |
2002
|
192,693,046
|
$120,000.00
|
| Erico Bridge Restoration Area |
2003
|
381,760,800
|
$866,000.00
|
| BC19 & 19B |
2004
|
46,559,400
|
N/A
|
| Pengrove Coal Company Bean BF-467 |
2005
|
6,482,400
|
$106,609.00
|
| BC16 |
2008
|
45,552,000
|
$216,740.00
|
| McIntire |
2011
|
12,238,572
|
$720,246.00
|
N/A – Information not available.