ABSTRACT
Acid mine drainage is successfully treated by constructed wetlands at a mining site currently being reclaimed near Fabius, Alabama. This study examines effects of storm water drainage through the constructed wetlands by evaluating effluent water quality. In particular, the study reviews total iron, total manganese, and total suspended solids concentrations and pH levels vs. flow, rain intensity, and total rain. However, after comparing historical National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) effluent and precipitation data with storm data collected during the study, study results appeared to be unaffected. Greater flows and associated concentrations were removed from NPDES databases used to establish baselines for this study. By equalizing hydrology effects and assuming baseline loading design considerations are adequate, impoundment vegetation coverage appears to have caused differences between storm performances of the two systems during this study. When considering regulation, design, and supporting research, more storm event studies are needed to support the correlations drawn from this study.
