SURF continues long record of clean water discharge
The annual report on the water quality in Gold Run Creek, downstream from the SURF water treatment plant discharge, shows excellent results.
The latest report in 17 years of annual independent studies on the health of the aquatic ecosystem in the creek downstream from the water discharge at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) shows the facility’s release of treated process water improves habitat for downstream aquatic life.
“The annual aquatic biomonitoring results have consistently shown that Gold Run Creek below our water treatment plant discharge consistently supports more robust macroinvertebrate and periphyton communities,” said Bonita Goode, SURF environmental manager. “The increased presence of these small aquatic animals and submerged plants shows that SURF’s discharge is improving the biology of Gold Run Creek.”
Gold Run Creek downstream from the SURF discharge.
SURF occupies the site which was once the deepest gold mine in North America. Mining does not take place on the site today; rather, SURF’s mission is dedicated to the advancement of world-class science, and education.
The vast network of tunnels that make up America’s Underground Lab continually fill with water that percolates in from the surface and underground sources. To keep the underground lab space dry, SURF continually pumps water from the depths. This water contains concentrations of iron and other naturally occurring contaminants that must be removed before it is released into Gold Run Creek.
SURF operates an onsite water treatment plant to clean the water pumped from the underground in the dewatering process. Treatment plant operators at SURF are on hand 365 days a year to complete daily water testing for contaminants like ammonia and total suspended solids. SURF also treats water from the legacy Grizzly Gulch tailings impoundment, which was operated by the former mining company. SURF treats and discharges between 500-1500 gallons of water per minute which includes a mix of the water from underground and tailings impoundment water.
“Our water treatment plant has treated and discharged over 10 billion gallons of water in the last 17 years, with zero Clean Water Act permit violations. This is a testament to the skill and care of the treatment plant operators,” Goode said.
One of SURF’s core values is protection of the environment, and the facility is committed to preserving water quality in the Black Hills in the decades to come. Process water treatment and monitoring will remain essential at SURF for as long as the facility operates and continues dewatering the underground laboratory space.
