Fifteen passive treatment system have been constructed in the Slippery Rock Creek Watershed to combat the effects of approximately 30 abandoned mine discharges that degrade the stream.

These passive treatment systems remove dissolved metals from the water using natural materials such as limestone and compost. The metals form solids that are collected in the system.

The sooty black mineral formed within the limestone beds of some passive treatment systems is called todorokite, which contains about 50 percent manganese. Particpants in the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition are in the process of developing methods to recover this manganese ore.

Manganese, in the form of the materials collected from the mine drainage, is commonly used as a colorant in different glazes for pottery. When local potter Robert Isenberg of The Pottery Dome in Mercer, PA was approached by Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition participant Kyle Durrett with the concept of using some of the recovered manganese in his pottery glazes, he was immediately interested.

Isenberg feels that making good use of the recovered manganese is a worthwhile endeavor. The largest request for this new glaze has come from the North Country Brewing Company located in downtown Slippery Rock, PA to make mugs for its annual “Mug Club” event.

The North Country Brewing Company has a yearly “Mug Club” where patrons can purchase one of 300 handmade mugs that they can use as their own personal mug that resides at the brewery. Each mug holds slightly more than one pint and is unlike any other mug in size, shape and glaze.

North County Brewing supports many local grassroots organizations and is graciously donating 5 percent of the profits from sales of the new mugs to the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition to benefit long-term maintenance on the passive treatment systems in the watershed. These highly anticipated new mugs will be available soon. They are sure to go fast so don’t wait until they are gone!

The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition would like to thank North Country Brewing for the generous support and The Pottery Dome and Robert Isenberg for helping to promote this truly green technology. (reprinted from The Catalyst, April 2007)

4/27/2007