Acid Mine Drainage

Acid mine drainage is water that flows from abandoned mines that is typically very acidic and/or has high metal concentrations. Elk County was heavily mined, and as a result, there are many acid mine discharges. These discharges are treated through either active or passive treatment. Active treatment systems dump lime into the stream to treat the water. Passive systems use biological components, such as ponds and wetlands, to treat the water. Both types of systems are found within the county. The Elk County Conservation District works to monitor acid mine drainage discharges and treatment systems, rehabilitate previously installed systems, and to construct new systems.