Program
All Presentations (pdf)

Monday
8:15 Brent Means
10:10 James J. Gusek
12:40 Jonathan M. Dietz
2:15 Kimberly R. Weaver
4:00 Brent Means

Tuesday
8:45 Robert Kleinmann
9:15 Brent Means
9:30 James J. Gusek
10:00 Glenn C. Miller
10:30 Linda Ann Figueroa
12:40 Art Rose
1:10 Charles A. Cravotta III
1:40 Danielle M C Huminicki
2:50 Bernard Aube
3:20 Timothy K. Tsukamoto
3:50 Bradley R. Shultz
4:20 Kimberly R. Weaver

Wednesday

8:00 Linda Ann Figueroa
8:30 John Senko
9:00 Song Jin
10:10 Jonathan M. Dietz
10:40 Daryle H. Fish
12:40 John Chermak
1:10 Griff Wyatt
1:40 Dan Mueller
2:50 Sean C. Muller
3:20 Jack Adams
3:50 Roger Bason
3:50 Mark B. Carew

Thursday
8:00 Rep. John E. Peterson
8:30 Scott Sibley
9:00 Charles A. Cravotta III
9:30 Michael R. Silsbee
10:30 Lykourgos Iordanidis
11:00 Mark Conedera
11:30 Barry Scheetz
1:25 William Benusa
1:55 Mike Sawayda
2:25 Susan J. Tewalt
3:25 Robert S. Hedin
3:55 Chad J. Penn

4:25 Ron Neufeld



Tuesday 4:20 Kimberly R. Weaver, P.E., Hedin Environmental

Engineering Self-flushing Systems for Mine Drainage Treatment: Theory and Practice

Author(s)

Kimberly R. Weaver, P.E.
Hedin Environmental
195 Castle Shannon Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
krweaver@csonline.net



Kathleen M. Lagnese, P.E., Private Consultant
2 Commons Drive
Bradfordwoods, PA 15015

Robert S. Hedin, Ph.D.
Hedin Environmental
195 Castle Shannon Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
412-571-2204
bhedin@hedinenv.com


Abstract

A common goal of passive mine drainage treatment is the removal metals such as iron and aluminum from contaminated water. However, these metals form solid particles that can clog pipes and limestone aggregate, increasing operational costs and decreasing treatment system longevity. To combat this problem, a wide variety of flushing systems have been installed in passive treatment systems. Flushing systems usually consist of a network of perforated pipes buried in limestone, which drain via valved header pipes. Periodically, the valves are opened to allow large amounts of water to flush through the system and, ideally, remove accumulated solids. In recent years, self-flushing systems have been used to treat mine drainage. Flushing, either via valves or with self-flushing siphons, theoretically extends the useful life of passive systems by restoring porosity. Unfortunately, flushing system design is poorly understood and most systems are not designed using scientific or engineering principles. Additionally, few systems are subjected to rigorous monitoring after they are constructed. The purpose of this paper is to provide a survey of flushing technologies currently being used, detail one method of using engineering principles to design flushing networks, and discuss the implications of this analysis on future flushing technologies.

Presentation

Biography

Kim Weaver, P.E., is a project manager at Hedin Environmental, a small Pittsburgh PA consulting firm specializing in mine drainage assessment and treatment. As an undergraduate civil engineering student at
Bucknell University, she assisted Dr. Carl Kirby with mine drainage research. She obtained a master's degree in Environmental Engineering from Princeton University. Ms. Weaver has worked at Hedin Environmental since 1999.