Description: Pit ponds on abandoned surface coal mines are a hazard to human health and safety because they are often cold, deep and acidic.  This presentation discusses the experimental use of a custom-fabricated venturi nozzle to distribute caustic soda into an acidic pit pond, at a controlled rate, to neutralize the water’s low pH.

Author: Wallace Greenlees

Author Bio: Wallace Greenlees is a senior Environmental Engineer with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.  Since joining the Department in 2010, he’s been working in the Iowa Abandoned Mine Lands Program developing coal mine reclamation plans, overseeing construction of reclamation contracts, and providing engineering support to his team.  Prior to joining IDALS, he was employed with engineering consulting firms in Overland Park Kansas and Urbandale Iowa. He’s been licensed as Professional Engineer in Iowa since 2003.  He earned degrees in Agricultural and Civil Engineering from Iowa State University.