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.