Assessment of Passive AMD Treatment Systems in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Abandoned mine drainage (AMD) is an environmental issue of key concern in Pennsylvania. Once a rich coal mining area, Pennsylvania has been left with the consequences of abandoned or poorly regulated mines that now pollute the state’s waterways. In particular, Schuylkill County, once known for its abundance of anthracite coal, now has several AMD sites causing a change in pH and an increase in metal concentration in the water. This project analyzed five specific AMD sites which have passive treatment systems installed to mitigate the effects of the acidic drainage. The sites were Tracy Airhole, Mary D Borehole, Bell Colliery, Oneida #3, and Silver Creek. Each site is located in Schuylkill County and is part of the Northern Swatara Watershed. Tracy Airhole is west of Donaldson, Pennsylvania on SR 125 and water from this site flows into Good Spring Creek. Mary D Borehole and and Bell Colliery treatment systems are located in Mary D, Pennsylvania. Treated water from these systems flows into the Schuylkill River. The Silver Creek treatment system is in New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and water from this system flows into Silver Creek. The project aimed to determine the water quality of these sites and assess whether the treatment systems were properly functioning. Each system was sampled once in the summer of 2017. In situ measurements using a YSI EXO2™ sonde include pH, turbidity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Bulk samples were stored in 4-liter jugs in ice for transport back to the laboratory. Titrations to measure acidity and alkalinity were performed on triplicate filtered samples. Sub samples were stored for heavy metals (both unfiltered (total) and filtered (dissolved); both acidified to pH \u3c2) and simple anions and cations (filtered). Comparative results will be presented