HOWE BRIDGE

During the year 2002, Hedin Environmental removed accumulated iron sludge from two settling ponds following an Anoxic Limestone Drain (ALD) that treats an artesian flow of water to Millcreek , Jefferson County , Pa. The recovered iron was pumped into a 100 feet long by 25 feet wide geotube, to filter out the iron solids and allow clean water to seep out of the bag.  The material retained in the geotube was allowed to dewater at the site while in the bag for one year. The dewatering of this material produced a cake like material that could then be transported by truck over the highway. The cleaning of these ponds has made for more space to precipitate iron from the water as it passes through the system, and it is expected that the removal of iron at this site will take place every 10 to 12 years. This photo above shows a tractor/pump mixing the iron sludge into a slurry to prepare the material for pumping.