Constructed Wetlands and Bioreactors: A passive solution to Acid Mine Drainage

When a water source comes in contact with rocks that contain a high amount of sulfur, the water becomes highly acidic and consequently becomes contaminated with heavy metals. This often happens at mining sites when rocks rich in sulfur, such as pyrite, become exposed and later come in contact with flowing streams or rivers. In New Mexico there is estimated to be 15,000 abandoned mine sites, a lot of which people are not aware of. Many hazards come with these sites but water contamination is among the worst. Water is already a scarce resource in our desert communities so it is our duty to preserve fresh water for drinking, agriculture and the environment by containing Acid Mine Drainage.

We plan to use a combination of an artificial wetland and a sulfate-reducing bioreactor to cleanse the water while leaving a minimal impact on the environment. This plan is ideal for a small community because it does not use electricity, it is relatively inexpensive and it requires minimal amounts of maintenance.

• This plan was formulated for communities based on those found in Northern New Mexico such as Mora and Peñasco.
• Population: ~1000
• Budget: ~$223,000 (initial cost)
• Duration: Implementation of treatment systems will take 2-3 weeks and maintenance will occur continuously throughout the treatment process.