Tom Grote taking field water sample

The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition performs routine maintenance and monitoring activities on 18 passive acid mine drainage treatment systems in their watershed.

Recently Tom Grote and Kyle Durrett did routine maintenance at the De Sale Phase III treatment system in Venango Township, Butler County that was installed in 2002 with funding provided by DEP’s Growing Greener Program, Butler County Commissioners and the Western Pennsylvania Watershed Program.

The system treats over 13.2 million gallons of water a year removing over 25,700 pounds of iron a year, 18,400 pounds of manganese, 2,700 pounds of aluminum and 97,700 pounds of acidity.

Routine maintenance on the day that Tom and Kyle visited consisted of removing vegetation and iron solids that had clogged a spillway from the vertical flow pound. During their visit, they also conducted field water quality testing to ensure the system was working properly.

With the generous support of landowners and rountine maintenance and testing, the passive system should remain functioning for years resulting in improvements in stream water quality and aquatic habitat.

For more information, visit the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition website.

5/18/2007