Characterization, Cleanup, and Revitalization of Mining Sites

Treatment Technologies for Mining-Influenced Water

This project acquired non-peer-reviewed, site-specific performance data on mining influenced water (MIW) treatment technologies for metals/metalloids/sulfate field tested (pilot or full-scale) at metal mining Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) sites. The overall goal was to compile previously non-peer-reviewed data into a report, Treatment Technologies for Mining-Influenced Water: Review of Non-Peer-Reviewed Performance Data, to assist U.S. EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) and remedial project managers (RPMs) in determining what technologies have been tested, details on how they performed, longevity of their performance, and the details that influenced performance to enable decisions for a technology's use or exclusion at other sites.

A total of 13 non-peer-reviewed studies documenting performance from active, passive, or semi-passive treatment systems were compiled. The report contains summaries of data from treatability studies, pilot studies, monitoring and maintenance reports, reports of activities, demonstration reports, and five-year review reports (all referred to as treatability studies for the purposes of this project). Site-specific performance data collected from the treatability studies and other site characteristics are tabulated in an Excel spreadsheet (Appendix A).

This report is not intended to provide a comprehensive overview of all mining-influenced waters treatment options, rather it is intended to supplement existing literature. U.S. EPA's 2014 Reference Guide to Treatment Technologies for Mining-Influenced Water provides a detailed overview of treatment technologies and the treatable contaminants, pre-treatment requirements, maintenance, performance and costs.