Minersville Wetlands

In Norwegian Township, a large underground area drains into the West Branch of the Schuylkill River. Before 2002, this included Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD), which negatively impacted the area’s eco-system. The Reading & Blue Mountain Northern Railroad Company leased a nearby floodplain to Schuylkill Headwaters Association so that they and Rettew Associates, Inc. could build a passive treatment system that would prevent this from happening. The AMD now flows through an intake structure to a settling pond, then a wetland treatment cell, both of which allow the offending metals to drop out of the AMD water. Once treated, the water flows back to the river via an outfall structure. Additionally, a two-foot high berm was placed around the system’s perimeter in order to prevent flooding damage.