Loyalhanna Watershed Association, Inc.

An overview of the process of treating AMD at LWA's Upper Latrobe AMD Treatment System, located in Latrobe, PA

Fixing Mistakes of the Past Through New Treatment Techniques

A priority project area for LWA since our inception has been constructing innovating treatment systems to tackle one of the largest sources of pollution to our area's waterways - Abandoned Mine Drainage. "AMD", as it is commonly known, contributes tons of iron and other heavy metals into streams within the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed, and most of Pennsylvania. The result of AMD pollution can be seen in orange, white or even black water that is both unattractive, as well as uninhabitable for aquatic life.

The metals and other contaminates contained in this water stem from ground water that has passed through sections of underground deep coal mines that were abandoned without proper remediation measures in place.  Most of the coal mining activity within our watershed occurred in the late 1800's and early 1900's when no guidelines were in place to handle any pollution sources that might have occurred as a result of this activity.  It has become a focal point of our association, as well as other conservation organizations, to address this pollution source by constructing treatment systems to clean up this water before it enters our area waterways. 

Josh Penatzer, LWA Project Manager, takes us around the site of the Upper Latrobe Mine Drainage Treatment System in this video segment, and explains the process of passive mine drainage treatment at work at this site.