The project provides a comprehensive analysis of the environmental challenges and remediation efforts of Hawk Run in Morris Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.
Sponsored by: Civil Engineering
Team Members
Grace McCartney Sayed Yousef Hasan Ruqaya Leeri Mary Jo Elias Sayah
Instructor: William Burgos
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Project Video
Project Summary
Overview
Hawk Run, located within the 275 square mile Moshannon Creek watershed, is one of the many streams that have been impacted by the extensive coal mining operations that began in the early 1800’s and continue to the present day. Designated as an abandoned mine land (AML), it constitutes a significant source of acid mine drainage (AMD) within Hawk Run and the neighboring tributaries of Moshannon Creek. Hawk Run’s discharge, specifically associated with the Morrisdale Coal Company’s mine complex, introduces significant amounts of metals and acidity into the stream, leading to serious problems for the surrounding environment, biodiversity of aquatic life, and water quality.
Objectives
Our designed mine water treatment plant has the objective of ensuring compliance with effluent standards, specifically to neutralize the acidity of the mine water, and to remove metals and suspended solids. We also aimed to optimize the treatment unit sizings and implement cost effective measures.
Approach
-Data collection: data was sourced from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) Mine Drainage Portal and the Coldwater Conservation Plan (CCP).
-Assessment of topographic and subsurface features.
-System Design: a process flow diagram was created to outline the treatment facility including Maelstrom Oxidizer tanks, a lime silo system, reaction tanks, flocculating clarifiers, a polymer feed system, and a settling pond/aerobic wetland.
-Unit sizings: AMDTreat was utilized alongside manual calculations to size treatment units.
-Cost and land usage estimations: AMDTreat was utilized to estimate treatment unit costs and required land usage.
Outcomes
After careful evaluation of design alternatives, our company developed the optimal design for a mine water treatment plant. Our design is the most cost-effective, environmentally safe, and community-friendly solution. The treatment facility enforces effluent standards, optimizes unit sizings, and is overall the leading option.