South Fayette Conservation Group

Working to ensure the conservation, protection and enhancement
of our natural and recreational resources

Gladden Discharge Passive Treatment System - Design Phase

The Gladden Discharge in located on private property at the bottom of a steep hillside in the Gladden area of South Fayette Township.  Abandoned Mine Discharge, in this case water heavily polluted with iron, is bubbling up to the surface from the mine shafts located underneath.

Thanks to Pa DEP BAMR, the SFCG was able to borrow a continuous automated flow data recorder for the discharge site.  This sonar device will take hourly readings of the amount of water bubbling up to the surface and draining down towards Millers Run Creek.   This information is necessary in order to develop a treatment system for this problem.

As you can see, the water immediately downstream of the discharge site is not suitable for sustaining aquatic life.  The SFCG is working with professional design and water quality testing firms to prepare a solution to the problem that will be submitted to the DEP Growing Greener Program for consideration of funding.

The Gladden discharge is the primary pollutant in the Lower Chartiers Creek Watershed contributing 60% of the iron loading and 70% of the acidity loading.

Restoration of the Fishing Run stream channel and the remediation of the Gladden discharge will restore approximately four devastated miles of Millers Run, greatly improving the quality of water within the Lower Chartiers Creek Watershed. 

Learn more about AMD at http://amrclearinghouse.org/Sub/AMDbasics/