PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF MINESOILS IN WEST-VIRGINIA AND THEIR INFLUENCEON WASTE-WATER TREATMENT

Wastewater treatment in southern West Virginia is limited by steep ter rain and shallow soil. Surface mine reclamation replaces soil material s that may be suitable for wastewater treatment. Two minesoil series, Kaymine (a loamy-skeletal, mixed, nonacid, mesic Typic Udorthent) and Sewell (a loamy-skeletal, mixed, acid, mesic Typic Udorthent), were se lected and soil samples mere collected on six reclaimed surface mines to determine texture, bulk density, water retention, and saturated hyd raulic conductivity (Ksat). Kaymine had more clay and silt and higher moisture retention than Sewell. In A horizons, Kaymine Ksat was about two orders of magnitude faster than Sewell, but Ksat values were highl y variable within and among sites. On two reclaimed mine sites (one Se well and one Kaymine), tapwater or wastewater was surface applied to 9 m(2) field plots over 32 wk. Leachate was collected in 50 and 100 cm wells and analyzed for chemical and microbiological properties. On the Sewell minesoil,little water was collected in wells after application , therefore water failed to move adequately in this minesoil. On Kaymi ne, Fe, Mn, sulfate, and suspended solids were present in all wells, i ndicating flushing of these materials from minesoils into wells. Nitra te (NO3)-N was about two times greater in wastewater than tapwater and this same ratio was found in corresponding wells. Biological oxygen d emand was decreased by 87% from wastewater to water in wells. Fecal co liform bacteria were not removed by wastewater passing through Kaymine soils. In general, these minesoils are not suitable for wastewater re novation based on the application methods and rates employed in this s tudy.