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Younger, P. L. (1997). Minewater treatment using wetlands. Water and Environment Manager, 2(4), 11.
Abstract: Experiences gained by the UK Mining Industry and effluent treatment companies in theuse of wetlands for treating minewaters are discussed. Discharges from abandoned mines is a major cause of freshwater pollution in some regions. Key topics relating to the use of wetlands for minewater treatment will be discussed at a CIWEM conference in Newcastle on 5 September 1997.
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Wiseman, I. M., Edwards, P. J., & Rutt, G. P. (2003). Recovery of an aquatic ecosystem following treatment of abandoned mine drainage with constructed wetlands. Land Contam. Reclam., 11(2), 221–230.
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.
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Wiseman, I. (2002). Constructed wetlands for minewater treatment. Bristol, England: Environment Agency.
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Wieder, R. K. (1989). A survey of constructed wetlands for acid coal mine drainage treatment in the Eastern United States. Wetlands, 9(2), 299–315.
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Watzlaf, G. R., Schroeder, K. T., & Kairies, C. L. (2000). Proceedings, 17th Annual National Meeting – American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation. Tampa.
Abstract: Ten passive treatment systems, located in Pennsylvania and Maryland, have been intensively monitored for up to ten years. Influent and effluent water quality data from ten anoxic limestone drains (ALDs) and six reducing and alkalinity-producing systems (RAPS) have been analyzed to determine long-term performance for each of these specific unit operations. ALDs and RAPS are used principally to generate alkalinity, ALDs are buried beds of limestone that add alkalinity through dissolution of calcite. RAPS add alkalinity through both limestone dissolution and bacterial sulfate reduction. ALDs that received mine water containing less than 1 mg/L of both ferric iron and aluminum have continued to produce consistent concentrations of alkalinity since their construction. However, an ALD that received 20 mg/L of aluminum experienced a rapid reduction in permeability and failed within five months. Maximum levels of alkalinity (between 150 and 300 m&) appear to be reached after I5 hours of retention. All but one RAPS in this study have been constructed and put into operation only within the past 2.5 to 5 years. One system has been in operation and monitored for more than nine years. AIkalinity due to sulfate reduction was highest during the first two summers of operation. Alkalinity due to a limestone dissolution has been consistent throughout the life of the system. For the six RAPS in this study, sulfate reduction contributed an average of 28% of the total alkalinity. Rate of total alkalinity generation range from 15.6 gd''rn-'to 62.4 gd-'mL2 and were dependent on influent water quality and contact time.
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