Two SCWA members are prepared to share with school, community, or fraternal groups what the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association is about. Tom Keller, executive director, and member Mark Ferlin recently gave their first presentation to a group in West Newton.
Keller provides the informational segment of the talk as he focuses on what the SCWA is, the variety of projects it has done, where it is going with projects, funding sources, and how people can get involved.
Ferlin, with his training in geology and 13 years of experience in the environmental industry, educates listeners about the mechanisms resulting in mine discharges and using that knowledge to remediate the discharges.
Ferlin uses a hydrogeological model&endash; discussing why water is where it is, why it has flooded the mines and why discharges occur where they do&endash;and a geochemical model &endash; describing the physical and chemical interaction between water and ground metals.
"Iron precipitate in the form of rust is commonly seen as an orange discoloration of the stream. However, depending on the chemistry happening in a stream, Ferlin said, "iron precipitate could also be colored green."
He also noted that manganese and aluminum are also commonly associated with mine discharges "A full spectrum study would reveal others," he added.
Ferlin then reviews remedial alternatives that are available. "Knowing what causes a mine discharge," says Ferlin, "can provide the 'cure.'" Three technologies are available at present.
"Chemical treatment and oxidation (aerating the water) are both active in that something is applied to speed up the reactions," Ferlin noted.
The chemical method is not feasible for SCWA because the process involves building and running treatment plants, a very costly proposition. Aeration adds more air, and thus oxygen to the water to cause the dissolved metals to separate out, is being done at the Wilson Run site.
Constructed wetlands are a third way of treating mine discharges. "This passive measure relies on a slow and natural process," Ferlin observed. Basically, the surface area of a pond or series of lagoons is used to expose the dissolved metals to air so they can settle out of the water before it flows from the discharge site into a stream. An example of this is the wetlands at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe.
"We are getting good results at both locations," said Ferlin of the Wilson Run and St. Vincent projects.
Ferlin studied geology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and received his master's of science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Association members, if you know of a group looking for a program, tell them about the SCWA Keller-Ferlin team!
As such the Association shall use its resources to educate the citizens of the watershed as to sound environmental practices. In addition, the Association will seek out and cooperate with government agencies, interested organizations, businesses and individuals to implement programs to improve water quality and encourage proper land use.