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Author Wiseman, I.M.; Edwards, P.J.; Rutt, G.P. openurl 
  Title Recovery of an aquatic ecosystem following treatment of abandoned mine drainage with constructed wetlands Type Journal Article
  Year 2003 Publication Land Contam. Reclam. Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 11 Issue 2 Pages 221-230  
  Keywords Pollution and waste management non radioactive Groundwater problems and environmental effects Wetlands and estuaries geological abstracts: environmental geology (72 14 2) geomechanics abstracts: excavations (77 10 10) geographical abstracts: physical geography hydrology (71 6 8) coal mine recovery aquatic ecosystem constructed wetland water treatment mine drainage abandoned mine  
  Abstract Seven kilometres of the River Pelenna in South Wales were impacted for approximately 30 years by discharges from abandoned coal mines. Elevated iron and low pH caused significant ochreous staining and had detrimental effects on the river ecology. The River Pelenna Mine water project constructed a series of passive wetland treatment systems to treat these discharges. Monitoring of the performance and environmental benefits of these has been undertaken as part of an Environment Agency R&D project. This project has assessed the changes in water quality as well as monitoring populations of invertebrates, fish and birds between 1993 and 2001. Performance data from the wetlands show that on average the three systems are removing between 82 and 95% of the iron loading from the mine waters. In the rivers downstream, the dissolved iron concentration has dropped to below the Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) of 1 mg/L for the majority of the time. Increases in pH downstream of the discharges have also been demonstrated. Trout (Salmo trutta) recovered quickly following mine water treatment, returning the next year to areas that previously had no fish. Intermittent problems with overflows from the treatment systems temporarily depleted the numbers, but the latest data indicate a thriving population. The overflow problems and also background episodes of acidity have affected the recovery of the riverine invertebrates. However, there have been gradual improvements in the catchment, and in the summer of 2001 most sites held faunas which approached those found in unpolluted controls. Recovery of the invertebrate fauna is reflected in marked increases in the breeding success of riverine birds between 1996 and 2001. This study has shown that constructed wetlands can be an effective, low cost and sustainable solution to ecological damage caused by abandoned mine drainage.  
  Address I.M. Wiseman, Environment Agency Wales, 19 Penyfai Lane, Furnace, Llanelli SA15 4EL, United Kingdom  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0967-0513 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Recovery of an aquatic ecosystem following treatment of abandoned mine drainage with constructed wetlands; 2530429; United-Kingdom 25; Geobase Approved no  
  Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17516 Serial 206  
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