• HOME
• DIVISIONS
  • Applicant Violator System Office (AVSO)
  • Federal Reclamation Program Division (FRPD)
  • Anthracite Team
  • Appalachia Team
  • Contracting Team
  • Pittsburgh Team
  • Pittsburgh Field Division (PFD)
    • Columbus Area Office
    • Johnstown Area Office
    • Harrisburg Area Office
  • Technical Support Division (TSD)
    • State and Federal Programs Branch (SFPB)
    • Ecological Services and Technology Transfer Branch (ESTTB)
    • Technology Services Branch (TSB)
    • Water and Engineering Services Branch (WESB)
    • National Mine Map Repository (NMMR)
• FIELD OFFICES
  • Charleston Field Office (CHFO)
  • Knoxville Field Office (KFO)
  • Lexington Field Office (LFO)
• NEWS
• EVENTS
• TECH SERVICES
  • Hydrology
  • Blasting

Hydrology

Hydrology Equipment Showcase
Hydrology Related Links

The Technical Support Division brings over 125 years of collective professional experience to surface and ground water quality and quantity issues. We conduct hydrologic investigations on active and abandoned surface and underground mines for reclamation, permitting and enforcement activities. Our primary focus is supporting state mining programs.

Expertise includes dealing with:

• Flow, storage, yield and discharge of underground mine-pools
• Mine drainage quality prediction and assessment
• Water loss and impact assessment from streams, wells and springs
• Water quality assessment and identification
• Mine water control, chemical and passive treatment
• Slope stability and erosion control
• Mine gases

Our hydrologists and geologists evaluate each individual project with a combination of field sampling and measurement; reconnaissance; mapping; laboratory testing; and graphical, statistical and modeling techniques. We maintain an array of specialized equipment to conduct field studies including a borehole camera, submersible pumps, geophysical tools, pressure transducers and water quality, flow and level meters.

Reports pass an internal peer review before transmittal to our clients. We present and explain findings and recommendations to all interested groups, including litigants if needed. Our hydrologists and geologists publish in professional journals and conferences, and instruct hydrology and geochemistry classes in OSM’s National Training Programs.

Eh-pH Diagram of Acid Mine Drainage	Mine Pool Flow Model	Water Quality Sampling	Water Level Measurement
Click on a photo to see a larger image and description.

Eh-pH Diagram of Acid Mine Drainage

Eh-pH phase diagram used by hydrologists to determine mineral solubility using geochemical modeling in mine water investigations.

Back to Top

Mine Pool Flow Model

Water flow within a major flooded underground mine was demonstrated using TIPS software as part of a hydrologic investigation.

Back to Top

Water Quality Sampling

Hydrologist is conducting field measurements of chemical properties of an mine discharge in Pennsylvania.

Back to Top

Water Level Measurement

Hydrologist taking water level measurements in a monitoring well completed in an abandoned underground mine in Pennsylvania.

Back to Top

Report An AML Emergency | Oversight Reports | Search AR Site | Glossary | AR Site Index