Abstract
A pilot biochemical reactor (BCR) was designed and constructed to treat mine-influenced water emanating from an adit at a remote site in southern Colorado which receives an average of 400 inches (10.2 m) of snowfall each season. The objective of the study is to operate and monitor a BCR on a year- round basis in a harsh mountain environment. There are several unique attributes of the treatment and monitoring system. It has been constructed at an elevation of 11,000 ft a.m.s.l. (3353 m), and is designed to operate year-round. Since the site has limited winter accessibility due to snowfall, a remote monitoring system was designed to collect samples and field parameters throughout winter months. An automated sampling system powered by solar cells is used to sample the system influent and effluent on a weekly basis and an elaborate Teledyne ISCO™ (ISCO) satellite monitoring system tracks data on an hourly basis with data being uploaded to a web site. Winter water samples will be gathered from the autosamplers in the spring and analyzed for metals. Fall influent and effluent water quality results from the treatment system are reviewed. These include field parameters reported via satellite and metal concentrations from water quality samples. Since there are limited data on biochemical and sulfate-reducing reactors operating in elevated and harsh winter locations, the acquired data are unique for mine-influenced water remediation.
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