Wet Lab

We have now identified the source of the acidification as the coal mine, and so we must find some way to rebalance the ecosystem. One way is to introduce lime into the river to neutralize the acid. This method is in use on the Blackwater River in West Virginia. Limestone is dumped into a container called a Hopper that conveys it into a drum positioned over the river. The limestone is crushed inside the drum and released from small holes into the river as water passes through.

It is your job to calculate how much limestone will be needed to return the river to its natural state. On the next page, we will lead you through this process step by step.

Wetlab Instructions ->