Resource Recovery With A Twist
By Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator
As watershed groups continue to grapple with funding for the operation and maintenance of their treatment systems, one group has developed an innovative way to use the by-products from their passive treatment systems to help them maintain their systems.
The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition has been working to restore Slippery Rock Creek since 1994 and has installed 12 treatment systems throughout the 40 square mile watershed in western Pennsylvania–an impressive accomplishment. Even more impressive is the method by which they intend to help continue funding their reclamation efforts–by selling pottery.
Two of the by-products of the group’s passive treatment systems, iron oxide and managanese, as it turns out, are useful in creating beautiful glazes for pottery. The group worked with Stream Restoration, Inc. to recover the iron and manganese by-products from the treatment systems, found a local potter who was willing to give these pigments a try and voila, a unique product, “Clean Creek Pottery” was born.
Teapot and cups from Clean Creek Pottery
Although only a young venture, Clean Creek Pottery has rapidly found increasing support within the Slippery Rock Watershed and beyond. When people purchase this “green technology” glazed pottery they contribute to SRWC and SRI’s efforts to treat Abandoned Mine Drainage. You can read about Clean Creek Pottery in the March/April 2008 issue of the Sierra Club magazine which features an article about Margaret Dunn of Stream Restoration, Inc and her group’s efforts to make lemonade from lemons.
To find out more about Clean Creek Pottery and restoration efforts in the Slippery Rock Watershed, visit:
The Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition
Sierra Club Magazine’s article “One Small Step: Glazed with What Oozed“