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Managing TDS in the Upper Monongahela River Basin Project WRI 119

Managing TDS in the Upper Monongahela River Basin Project WRI 119. Paul Ziemkiewicz, PhD Director West Virginia Water Research Institute. Project Goals. Identify and monitor the primary components of TDS in the Upper Monongahela River Basin Identify the primary sources of TDS

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Managing TDS in the Upper Monongahela River Basin Project WRI 119

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  1. Managing TDS in the Upper Monongahela River BasinProject WRI 119 Paul Ziemkiewicz, PhD Director West Virginia Water Research Institute West Virginia University

  2. Project Goals Identify and monitor the primary components of TDS in the Upper Monongahela River Basin Identify the primary sources of TDS Understand the relationship between stream flow and [TDS] Evaluate and develop efficient and effective methods for controlling TDS concentration West Virginia Water Research Institute

  3. Pittsburgh Basin-Major AMD plants West Virginia Water Research Institute

  4. Major AMD treatment Plants-Upper Mon River West Virginia Water Research Institute

  5. Background on TDS in the Upper Monongahela Basin: The river was dead due to untreated AMD prior to 1970 AMD treatment brought back fisheries As UG mining moved down dip toward the center of the Pittsburgh Coal Basin, salinity increased No basin-wide flow/chemistry monitoring until mid 2009 TDS loads needed to understand assimilative capacity West Virginia Water Research Institute

  6. Elizabeth PA L/D Hourly sampling: 2003 to 2008[TDS] mg/L vs. Flow 0-5,000 cfs Assimilative Capacity ? West Virginia Water Research Institute

  7. Elizabeth PA L/D Hourly sampling: 2003 to 2008 [TDS] mg/L vs. Flow 5,000-10,000 cfs West Virginia Water Research Institute

  8. Elizabeth PA L/D Hourly sampling: 2003 to 2008 [TDS] mg/L vs. Flow >10,000 cfs West Virginia Water Research Institute

  9. Estimated TDS loads (tpy) from Upper Mon AMD treatment plants West Virginia Water Research Institute

  10. WF 01 West Fork River DS Worthington, WV • TY 02 Tygart Valley River, Coalfax, WV • Mon 03 Monongahela River at MUB • DE 04 Deckers Creek in Morgantown • Mon 05 Monongahela River at Point Marion, PA • CR 06 Cheat River at tailrace of dam • DU 07 Dunkard Creek Shannopin Gage • Mon 08 Monongahela River at Masontown PA • WH 09 Whiteley Creek • TM 10 Tenmile Creek near Route 88 • Mon 11 Monongahela River, Elizabeth PA • YR 12 Youghiogheny River near Sutersville, PA West Virginia Water Research Institute

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  18. Between 1940 and 2008 the flow in the Upper Monongahela River* was > 2,800 cfs 65% of the time West Virginia Water Research Institute

  19. Dunkard Ck: TDS concentration and load vs. flow July 09 to Jan 10 mg/L West Virginia Water Research Institute

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  23. Flow vs. EC: July 09 to Feb 10 West Virginia Water Research Institute

  24. Distribution of TDS in Dunkard Ck-2008 West Virginia Water Research Institute

  25. Distribution of TDS in Dunkard Ck-2008 West Virginia Water Research Institute

  26. How much TDS can enter the Mon while maintaining a [TDS] of 500 mg/L? West Virginia Water Research Institute

  27. Coal Industry TDS Working Group • Formed in January 2010 • Consists of the major coal producers in the upper Monongahela basin • Supported by ongoing TDS monitoring and assessment carried out by the WV Water Research Institute West Virginia Water Research Institute

  28. The relationship among:flow, TDS Load and resulting [TDS] in Dunkard Ck.Remember: the total load from AMD treatment plants normally ranges between 100,000 to 300,000 tpy West Virginia Water Research Institute

  29. Where: • L= cumulative TDS load (tpy) from all AMD treatment plants in the watershed • La =TDS load (TPY) allowable to meet target in-stream TDS concentration (TDSt) • Pi = pumping rate (gpm) at a given AMD plant • Qs = Stream flow (cfs) • TDSt=target TDS concentration (mg/L) • TDSi= TDS concentration (mg/L) from a given AMD plant • TDSs = in-stream TDS concentration (mg/L) • FOS = Factor of Safety • n = number of AMD treatment plants in the watershed • i = individual AMD treatment plant West Virginia Water Research Institute

  30. The math is straightforward and therefore predictive ability is high: West Virginia Water Research Institute For example, for a watershed with three AMD treatment plants: (i= 1,2,3), P=2,500 gpm, TDS = 5,000, then L1 = 27,500 tpy P=5,500 gpm, TDS = 10,000, then L2 = 121,000 tpy P=7,500 gpm, TDS = 6,000, then L3 = 99,000 tpy Total = L = 247,500 tpy

  31. Managing TDS in the Monongahela River BasinThings that can be done in the near term • Develop relationship between flow and TDS • Management tools: • Identify Assimilative Capacity • Coordinate release of treated AMD With higher river flows • What are the critical flows in the Mon and the tributaries? • Manage by month? Season? Instantaneous flow? • Will require: • Monitoring program: chemistry and flows • Organization/Coordination: Industry TDS Working Group • Understanding of mine water storage capacities • More responsive pumping systems • Alternatively we’ll probably see end of pipe discharge limits for TDS West Virginia University

  32. Conclusions: • None of the TDS constituents are cumulative or toxic at reasonable concentrations • Upper Mon AMD plants generate between 200,000 and 500,000 tpy of TDS • That accounts for between 20 to 100% of TDS in the Mon • For much of the year the Mon can easily assimilate that sort of loading while maintaining a [TDS] below 500 mg/L • It should be possible to develop a managed, load-weighted discharge program to control [TDS] at the desired levels • That will require organization, commitment , transparency and accountability West Virginia Water Research Institute

  33. Questions? Managing TDS in the Monongahela River Paul Ziemkiewicz, PhD Director West Virginia Water Research Institute West Virginia University West Virginia Water Research Institute

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