SURF celebrates 10 billion gallons of onsite water treatment
The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) has treated and released 10 billion gallons of water over the course of more than 15 years of operations.
The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) has treated and released 10 billion gallons of water over the course of more than 15 years of operations. Daily onsite testing, as well as weekly analysis of discharged water and monthly analysis of the receiving stream by a third-party laboratory show zero water quality violations of the state issued discharge permit over this time. In addition, annual aquatic biomonitoring, conducted by an independent consultant, confirms a healthy downstream ecosystem with thriving populations of fish, insects, animals, and plants.
“Safety and the protection of our environment are at the top of SURF’s core values,” said Mike Headley, the executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority and the laboratory director at SURF. “The streams and rivers downstream from SURF flow through the same communities we all call home. We’re proud of our track record and our ongoing commitment to preserve water quality in the Black Hills.”
SURF treats the water that naturally filters down into 370 miles of underground workings at the facility. No mining occurs on the site; but the underground laboratory spaces, which host multiple world-class experiments, must be kept dry. The water pumped from the underground contains concentrations of iron and other naturally occurring minerals that must be removed before being released downstream into Gold Run Creek.
SURF operates an onsite wastewater treatment plant to clean the water that comes up from the underground. SURF also treats water from the nearby Grizzly Gulch tailings impoundment, which is held by a former mining company. SURF treats between 500-1500 gallons of water per minute which includes a mix of both the underground and tailings impoundment water.
David Johnson is the superintendent of SURF’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. He and his crew complete water testing at the facility 365 days a year. Johnson says on average, the plant treats about one-half billion gallons of water each year.
“Our plant operators all come from the former Guilt Edge Mine, where they each specialized in wastewater treatment on that site before coming to SURF. They bring a lot of experience and they’re very good at what they do,” Johnson said. “We’re fortunate to have them at SURF.”
The water treatment facility on the site was first constructed by the former Homestake Mine in 1984. Ongoing water treatment at SURF will be needed as long as the underground laboratory is operational, because much of the water that rains on the surface, eventually percolates underground.
