Tutorial 2

Question 1

Why do wetlands need a larger surface area then conventional systems with electrical energy input?

Answer 1

Because they are completely depending on solar energy.

Question 2

What kind of effects does acid mine drainage have on the quality of the water?

Answer 2

Chemical: reduction in pH, increase in soluble metal concentration, increase in particulate metals

Physical: turbidity, sedimentation

Biological: Respiratory

Ecological: reduction in primary productivity

Question 3

What is the difference between active treatment and passive treatment?

Answer 3

Active (traditional wastement plants): expensive, high maintenance, can be engineered to treat any waste

Passive treatment (wetlands): low cost, low maintenance, limited to treating less severe waste.

Question 4

What did we have to do during the tutorial?

Answer 4

Make a water treatment plan for a client. He operates a coal mine. effluent from mining operations is polluting local water ways and the client is being fined heavily for the pollution. We had to propose a way to treat the effluent water before it reaches national water quality standards for surface water.