Treatment of Coal Mine Drainage (CMD) 

for Beneficial Reuse

A case study on the Gilberton Power Plant

presented by Aquatech International
Drainage from thousands of abandoned coal mines, has led 

to a unique opportunity to beneficially use these waters for 

hydraulic stimulation in Marcellus and Utica Shale wells in 

the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. 

Aquatech has been treating CMD for over 20 years and will 

present a case study for beneficial reuse of CMD for the 

Gilberton Power plant located in Frackville, Pennsylvania. 

Introduction
Gilberton Power Company (John B. Rich Memorial Power Station)

-- Located in Frackville, PA 

-- Began operations in 1988

-- Generating over 590 million KW hrs/yr of electricity

-- Sale to Pennsylvania Power & Light. 

Gilberton Power Company
Gilberton Power Company
The Gilberton Power Company utilizes make-up water

-- Rate of 1100 gpm

-- Source is drawn from nearby mine pool and deep wells

-- Steady supply of large volumes of local accessible source

-- Treatment is required before the source water is used

-- Source water has an undesired level of iron of 46ppm

-- Aquatech treatment reduces iron levels to 0.05 ppm.

Water Sourcing and Treatment
The Aquatech treatment process consists of the following 

main elements: 

1. Filter trays

2. Aeration tower / Premix tank

3. Lime Slurry / pH adjustment

4. Flocculation tank

5. Clarifier

6. Mixed-bed filters

7. Holding tank of cleaned water

Treatment Scope
Close-up of Clarifier
Process Flow Diagram #1
Process Flow Diagram #2
Additional Treatment Methods

Element Method

Iron (Fe) Passive system via oxidation

Sulfate (SO4) Nanofiltration membranes

Sulfate (SO4) Chemical / Physical filtration

With consideration to O&G industry, additional methods 

and/or treatment needs may be required beyond the 

example of this case study, such as...
The PA DEP is responsible for addressing the acid mine 

drainage and discharging it into the Mahanoy Creek. 

From April 2010 to May 2011

-- PA DEP operated on an average of 11 hours per day

-- Pumping 3000-5000 gpm of Coal Mine Drainage (CMD)

-- Pumped into the Mahanoy Creek. 

PA DEP activity
As a result of the Aquatech water treatment process 

operating at the Gilberton Power Company

-- Plant is able to utilize 1.2 MGD of CMD for operations

-- Thereby avoid 1.2 MGD of the total CMD volume being

 discharged to the Mahanoy Creek. 

Local Project Benefits #1
The plant utilization of the CMD has following benefits

-- No cost to the taxpayer

-- Provides community the generated power

-- Reduces the impact of the CMD upon the environment

(Specifically the Mahanoy Creek and adjacent waterways and vegetation)

Local Project Benefits #2
Close-up of Water

Treated Untreated
Drainage from thousands of abandoned coal mines has 

contaminated more than 3,000 miles of streams and 

associated ground waters in Pennsylvania. 

It is the most extensive water-pollution problem affecting 

the four major river basins in Pennsylvania. 

Bigger Issue: Environment
While the state spends about $19 million annually on 

abandoned mine reclamation, this modest effort is dwarfed 

by the magnitude of the environmental problem. 

To date, relatively few CMD areas have been remediated, 

because of cost, potential liability and a lack of meaningful 

economic incentives. 

Bigger Issue: Cost & Liability
Many current and future Marcellus and Utica Shale wells 

are in close proximity to CMD areas

There is a unique opportunity to beneficially use these 

waters for hydraulic stimulation. 

The Opportunity
The CMD treatment applied at the Gilberton Power Plant can 

similarly be implemented throughout Pennsylvania to 

condition the water to meet requirements by Marcellus and 

Utica operators to meet their requirements for an abundant 

source water for hydraulic stimulation. 

The CMD treatment can be implemented in fixed, modular, 

and mobile treatment offerings and thereby accommodate 

local and regional requirements.

Pennsylvania Benefits
Devesh Mittal

VP & GM Shale Gas

mittald@aquatech.com

724-746-5300 Ext 281

Michael Nawrath

Sales Manager

nawrathm@aquatech.com

724-263-1027

Charles Kozora

Business Development Mgr.

kozorac@aquatech.com

724-746-5300 Ext 307

Contacts