AMD Treatment System Construction Photos
Click on any photo for a larger version.
Mid-March 2009
By mid-March, a by-pass structure had been constructed at the discharge site to capture the mine outflow and eventually divert it to the distribution pipes. (View a schematic of the AMD Treatment System.)
Mine discharge water continues to flow. . .
. . . untreated to Chartiers Creek .
Eventually, this port of the by-pass structure will
divert outflow to Pond #1 (aeration pond).
Concrete forms for troughs through the berms and pipe
that will carry water to the waterfall spillway.
Heavy machinery has been moving earth to form the aeration and settling ponds. The berm outlines are beginning to take shape.
A large backhoe creates a ledge for the
aeration waterfall in Pond #1.
A bulldozer moves earth to form berms
for the settling ponds.
The outer circular berm of Ponds #2
through #5 is clearly visible.
Early April 2009
Recent rains made earth-moving difficult, so workers concentrated on constructing the distribution pipe which will carry mine water from the discharge site to the aeration waterfall at Pond #1. (View a schematic of the AMD Treatment System.)
Workers assemble the distribution pipe. . .
. . . that will carry water to the first pond.
The pipe runs along the base of the hill
and eventually will be buried.
Meanwhile, the settling pond berms
continue to take shape.
Late May 2009
The project is really beginning to take shape. (View a schematic of the AMD Treatment System.)
The connection to the aeration waterfall is almost complete.
The berms of the pie-shaped settling ponds are complete.
Grading of the wetlands area is almost compete.
Soon these guys will have a much cleaner environment.
July 17, 2009
Mine discharge water has been diverted into the treatment system and begins to fill the ponds. (View a schematic of the AMD Treatment System.)
AMD water is diverted to the aeration waterfall . . .
. . . and the settling ponds begin to fill.
Cleaner water flows from the aeration
pond to the first settling pond.
July 24, 2009
Only one week later and the AMD treatment system is working, with clearly visible results! (View a schematic of the AMD Treatment System.)
Aeration of the mine discharge allows iron dissolved
in the water to form iron oxide which then
falls to the bottom of the settling ponds.
Pond #2 on the left and Pond #5 on the right
clearly show how the four settling ponds
remove iron oxide from the mine outflow.
Clear water from Pond #5 flows out to the wetlands. . .
. . . where additional cleaning occurs.
Clear AMD discharge water flows out of the treatment system. . .
. . . to the old discharge channel and into Chartiers Creek.
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