Flow from the mine is as much as 100 gallons per minute. The first pond is a shallow oxidation basin. The red color is iron precipitate.
Treatment is primarily by surface contact with oxygen.
The second and third ponds are deeper and have organic substrates for biochemical reactions. A final polishing pond filled with limestone rocks is not visible. The Project is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of land and Water Conservation. This Project has been accomplished very economically. Cooney Brothers Coal Comapny provided approximately a month work of heavy bulldozer work constructing treatment ponds as a donation to what is the first passive treatment system in the County.