Western Australia) Using Organic Matter
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Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 1-1-2000 Managing the acidity of abandoned water filled coal mining oidsv in Collie (Western Australia) using organic matter Scott A. Thompson Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Water Resource Management Commons Recommended Citation Thompson, S. A. (2000). Managing the acidity of abandoned water filled coal mining oidsv in Collie (Western Australia) using organic matter. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1352 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1352 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. 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MANAGING THE ACIDITY OF ABANDONED WATER FILLED COAL MINING VOIDS IN COLLIE (WESTERN AUSTRALIA) USING ORGANIC MATTER by Scott A. Thompson B Sc. (Environmental Science) A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements forthe Award of Master of Science (Environmental Management). At the Faculty of Communication, Health andScience, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup. Fn!TM COWAN UNIVERSITY i1•·W.'.A"Y 1_,tn1. n Date of submission: January, 2000 ii ABSTRACT The effectivenessof using organic matter additions to increase pH in abandoned water filled coal mining voids in Collie was investigated. Previous studies have demonstrated that passing acidic drainage through organic matter increased the waters pH. Laboratory trials using intact sediment cores (collected from Ewington, Collie, Western Australia)were used to assess the effectsof additions of hay, manure andmulched vegetation on pH, nutrients an sulphate levels. In a series of experiments the effectof different quantities of organic material, sulphate reducing bacterial inoculations and alkalinity generation were measured. A subsequent fieldexperiment was conducted to examine the impact that manure and mulch had on mine void water in 18 in situ ponds constructed adjacent to Ewington. It was concluded fromthe laboratory experiments that mulch and manure treatments were significantlybetter than hay as an organic matter addition for increasing the pH of acidifiedmine void water at Ewington. The manure produced the greatest increase in pH, although it contributed less to alkalinity than mulch; suggesting mulch has a greater ability to release carbonates than did manure. The manure and mulch additions increased the pH in the laboratory and field experiment by 0.5-1.5 pH units. This increase was sustained for most of the 21 week fieldexperiment. An increase in pH in the control ponds was recorded over the last 8 weeks of the experiment which was probably due to the inflowof more alkaline groundwater through the substratum as a consequence of the winter rainfall. pH values measured in the experimental ponds 15 months after the commencement of the project indicated that the ponds treated with manure iii maintained significantlyhigher pH levels than either the mulch or the control ponds. There was no differencebetween the pH values forthe ponds treated with mulch and the controls suggesting that manure not only provided a greater increase in pH but also over a longer period. The addition of organic matter also resulted in an increase in gilvin in the laboratory experiments. Low sulphate and sulphide levels were also recorded in all experiments beforeand afterthe introduction of organic materials into mine void water and ponds adjacent to Ewington indicating that sulphate reducing bacterial activity was not the cause forthe increase in pH as occurredin other situations, but rather the addition of alkaline organic matter caused the increase in pH. The addition of manure organic material was associated with an increase in the ortho-phosphate levels, resulting in an increase in chlorophyll a concentrations. This is believed to be the first stages of succession processes leading to the establishment of a biologically active wetland system. During this process the emerging ecosystem neutralises the acidic content of the water. iv DECLARATION I certify that this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; and that to the best of my knowledge and belief contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due referenceis made in the text; or contain any defamatory material. Signature Date�������������- v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank Dr Mark Lund, my supervisor, for his advice andassistance in planning this project and critically commenting on draftsof this thesis. I also thank my parents Graham and Eileen, for their positive and critical comments on various drafts of my thesis, supporting my many fieldtrips andtolerating a high level of disruption in our family over the past two years caused by this study. I would also like to thank my brother, Wayne, for his technical assistance on the computer. I thank Dr Paul Lavery for his supervision while Dr Lund was on sabbatical and Professor Harry Recher for his comments on early draftsof this thesis. I thank Sarah Brown, Lisa Edwards, Chris andAndrew Hutton for providing me with background data on the water chemistry of Ewington. I would also like to thank Stephen Williams, from Greenwaste Services fordonating the mulch for the project. I thank Ben Deany, Andrew Deakin, Nick Hadfield, Glen Horlin, Chris Mack, Jeremy Hadfield,Matt Launder andDavid Deany fortheir assistancein the field. Financial assistance Aspects of this project were funded by a postgraduate research grant fromthe School of Natural Sciences andthe Centre forEcosystem Management, Edith Cowan University. Other fundingcame from the Australian Coal Association Research Program. I am appreciative of all the financial assistance received. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ 1 LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................. 6 LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................. 9 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 14 ACID MINE DRAINAGE IN AUSTRALIA ................................................................. 17 COAL MINING ..................................................................................................... 19 Brief history of Collie coal mining ................................................................ 20 CHEMISTRY OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE ................................................................. 22 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE ......................................... 26 Effectsof heavy metals ................................................................................. 27 Effects of low pH .......................................................................................... 28 CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE ........................................ 29 REMEDIATION AND AMELIORATION STRATEGIES FOR TREATING ACID MINE DRAINAGE ........................................................................................................... 31 SULPHATE REDUCING BACTERIA ............................................•............................ 32 Wetlands ........................................................................................................ 37 Passive treatment alternatives.. ..................................................................... 41 Anaerobic organicsubstrate systems (or compost wetlands) .................... 42 Successive alkalinity producing systems .................................................. 44 fN SITU VOID TREATMENT ................................................................................... 45 AUSTRALIAN COAL ASSOCIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM ......•............................ 48 STUDY AIMS ....................................................................................................... 49 2.0 STUDY SITE .................................................................................................. 51 COLLIE··············································································································· 51 Geology of the area ......................................................................................