Task 3 FAQs
2025 Tasks
Q: Is it alright to use pre-treatments that enhance the fungi's ability to remove metals?
A: It is allowed as long as the pre-treatment is directly and exclusively related to helping fungi remove metals. Keep your eye on the end goal: That of finding out how effective fungi, alone, is for removing metals. Pre-treatments that are un-related to the fungi are not allowed.
Q: The flow rates are listed at 10 gpm. This seems very rapid for using fungi to remove metals from the waters.
A: Correct. Ideally, the water is retained long enough to allow the fungi to treat the water.
Q: Should this be envisioned as the fungi treating the water within a flowing stream?
A: There are no expectations of treating the water within a flowing stream, as this may not allow enough HRT (hydraulic retention time = treatment time) unless the stream is engineered (e.g., introducing sinuosity), which is certainly possible. Teams may consider any variety of engineered solutions to hold water as needed for treatment.
Q: What is the average/target size of this stream (width, depth)?
A: Assume no restrictions so engineer as needed.This depends on treatment time needed and flow rate, as well as footprint needed vs. land available.
Q: What is happening upstream of this flow?
A: The flow emerges from historical mine features such as an adit.
Q: What is happening downstream of this flow?
A: Can vary widely. Your team may determine what your proposed treatment system will need.
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