Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed Presented by Tom McComb, PG
TENNESSEE background Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 2
Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 3
Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 4
Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 5
Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 6
Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 7
2001 Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 8
2004 Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 9
1 Identification of sources of contaminants Benefits Identification of sources of contaminants Identification of first flush events Comparison of base-flow and storm-flow conditions Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 10
2 Identification of first flush events Benefits Identification of sources of contaminants Identification of first flush events Comparison of base-flow and storm-flow conditions Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 11
3 Comparison of base-flow and storm-flow conditions Benefits Identification of sources of contaminants Identification of first flush events Comparison of base-flow and storm-flow conditions Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 12
Source Identification Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 13
BENEFITS SOURCE IDENTIFICATION Base-Flow Dissolved Copper December 2012 through December 2013 12 10 8 Cu (ug/l) 6 4 2 0 NP6-0 NP6-1 NP6-1A NP6-3 FM3 800 NP7-1 NP7-4 SW8B Dec-12 Mar-13 Jun-13 Sep-13 Dec-13 Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 14
First Flush Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 15
BENEFITS FIRST FLUSH 2 0 1.8 0.5 1.6 1.4 Started Sampling Stopped Sampling 1 Hydrograph (ft) 1.2 1 0.8 1.5 2 Rain (in/hr) 0.6 0.4 2.5 0.2 3 09/13/07 09/13/07 09/14/07 09/14/07 09/15/07 09/15/07 09/16/07 09/16/07 Date Station 2 Level Rain (inches/hour) Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 16
BENEFITS FIRST FLUSH 300 8 250 7 Specific Conductance (us/cm) 200 150 100 6 5 4 3 2 Hydrograph (ft) and ph 50 1 0 0 09/13/07 09/14/07 09/14/07 09/15/07 09/15/07 09/16/07 09/16/07 09/17/07 Date SpC (us/cm) ph Station 2 Hydrograph (ft) Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 17
Storm Flow vs. Base Flow Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 18
BENEFITS STORM FLOW VS. BASE FLOW 1000 Base-Flow Monitoring - Dissolved Copper (ug/l) 144 Concentration (ug/l) 100 10 41.7 12 7.4 6.1 27.4 8.6 14.5 35.8 6.9 9.8 11.4 4 Chronic Copper- 4.0 ug/l 1 Feb-03 Aug-03 Feb-04 Aug-04 Feb-05 Aug-05 Feb-06 Aug-06 Feb-07 Aug-07 Feb-08 Date Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 19
BENEFITS STORM FLOW VS. BASE FLOW Storm Water Monitoring - Dissolved Copper (ug/l) 1000 975 1500 C oncentration (ug/l) 100 89.5 89.7 10 Acute Copper - 4.5 ug/l 1 Feb-03 Aug-03 Feb-04 Aug-04 Feb-05 Aug-05 Feb-06 Aug-06 Feb-07 Aug-07 Feb-08 Date Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 20
So when does this take place? Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 21
80 Annual Cumulative Rain (inches) 2003-2014 70 60 Average Annual Precipitation (2003-2013) - 55.1 50 Rain (inches) 40 30 20 10 0 1/1 2/1 3/1 4/1 5/1 6/1 7/1 Date 8/1 9/1 10/1 11/1 12/1 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 22
presence of metal salts When : dry season Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 23
Interstitial water flow When : wet season Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 24
Dry Season vs. Wet Season 1600 1400 1200 Dissolved Copper (ug/l) 1000 800 600 400 200 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Hours Acute Copper - 4.5 ug/l Dry Season - Dis. Copper Wet Season - Dissolved Copper Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 25
Setup Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 26
Analytical Suites vs Available Sample Volumes Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 27
Area/Velocity Meter Autosampler Hydrolab Rain gauge/weather station Field computer and printer! Setup : Equipment Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 28
Set up equipment! two weeks prior to anticipated sampling event Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 29
Source areas Stream Channel Hydraulics Security Safety Location Considerations Source areas Stream Channel Hydraulics Security Safety Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 30
Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 31
Setup 1. Building/improving trails to the selected sample locations 2. Securing the area velocity probe onto the stream bed 3. Surveying the stream cross section 4. Installing the area velocity meter and autosampler above flood levels Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 32
Setup 5. Securing autosampler s suction line from the creek to the sampler 6. Installing flow-through pipes for the Hydrolabs 7. Calibrating the meters and samplers Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 33
Sample bottles Sampling forms Paper towels Silicon tubing Flashlights Water proof pens Filters Vehicles Computer Liquinox Zip-lock bags Printer Shipping forms Trash bags Printer ink Calibration fluids Di-water Computer label paper Coolers Batteries Chocolate Tape and tape guns Trail markers Snacks Setup : Supplies Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 34
Safety Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 35
Safety : Use experienced field crew use the buddy system cell phones + contact info reflective vests avoid flood waters daily safety meetings Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 36
Safety : Establish meeting points Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 37
Safety : Alert client, site workers, and security of schedule Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 38
Startup Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 39
Check weather forecasts! Rain events typically start on weekends and national holidays Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 40
Startup : Auto Samplers install charged batteries install ice set the clock program start time confirm sample tubing is clear and in the water Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 41
Startup : Area/Velocity Meter Install new batteries Confirm instrument is recording depth and velocity Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 42
Startup : Hydrolabs Install batteries Check calibration Check installation Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 43
Make field-crew assignments Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 44
Duration 0.9 0.8 Water Level (ft) 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 11/14/07 11/14/07 11/14/07 11/15/07 11/15/07 11/15/07 11/15/07 11/15/07 11/16/07 11/16/07 11/16/07 11/16/07 Date Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 45
Autosampler Typical Runtime 12 hour intervals A.M. Schedule P.M. Schedule Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 46
Recommendations Sample labelling Sample filtering Bottle setup Shipping Decontamination Supplies of expendable materials Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 47
Lessons Learned Keep it simple Keep the sample intervals the same at all locations Notify the lab once the storm-water sampling event has started Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 48
Lessons Learned Have a set process (removing bottles from autosamplers, labelling, and filling out COC forms) Look out for other activities within watershed (treatment plant discharges, construction activities, beaver dam breaks) Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 49
Typical problems Inaccurate weather forecasts Dead batteries Hydrolabs washed up on bank or surfing Autosampler Problems o Incomplete restart o Accidental shut off o Ice jam on rotator arm o Sample bottles floating in carrousel o Suction line out of water/frozen o Error in water detection unit Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed 50
Techniques for Successful Storm-Water Monitoring in a Mining Influenced Watershed Presented by Tom McComb, PG