At the Mary D borehole, water flowed from mines into the Schuylkill River, polluting the river with abandoned mine drainage (AMD). Schuylkill Headwaters Association sought to create a passive treatment system that would allow the metals to naturally drop out of the discharge into a wetland before reaching the river.
Unfortunately, the only viable site for the wetland was the Mary D Ball Field, the town’s only recreational site. Using nearly $600,000.00 in grants and 10 acres of donated abandoned mine land, SHA and Rettew Associates, Inc. were able to build The Mary D Fire Company Sports Complex, which includes a regulation little league field as well as an all-purpose field, an ice skating pond and a walking trail. The construction of this new recreational complex has allowed the construction of the passive treatment system to go forward.
Project Details
Workgroup: Abandoned Mine Drainage
Source of Funding:
Date of Completion:
General Location: Mary D, PA
Leading Organization: Schuylkill Headwaters Association
Cost: $600,000
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