The Jeddo Tunnel (also called the Jeddo Mine Tunnel) is a

drainage tunnel A drainage tunnel, called an emissary in ancient contexts, is a tunnel or channel created to drain water, often from a stagnant or variable-depth body of water. It typically leads to a lower stream or river, or to a location where a pumping statio ...

at water level in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. It is one of the

Coal Region The Coal Region is a region of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is known for being home to the largest known deposits of anthracite, anthracite coal in the world with an estimated reserve of seven billion short tons. The region is typically define ...

's biggest discharges of mine water. The tunnel is five miles (eight kilometers) long and was constructed between 1891 and 1894, and at the time of its construction, was reputed to be the largest mine drainage tunnel in the world. It consists of major tunnels A and B, and minor tunnels C, D and X.

Description

The Jeddo Tunnel drains four large

coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal is formed when dea ...

basins over an area of close to . It also drained the

collieries Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...

of G.B. Markle & Company. On average the tunnel drains of water each minute. Sometimes the tunnel drains up to 100,000 gallons per minute. The tunnel is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long and runs between Black Creek and the hills in Butler Valley. It is . The Jeddo Tunnel is located close to the community of

Drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

. The tunnel drains the nine major minepools in the area via

gravity In physics, gravity () is a fundamental interaction which causes mutual attraction between all things with mass or energy. Gravity is, by far, the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, approximately 1038 times weaker than the stro ...

. The Jeddo Tunnel drains the mines in 13 nearby communities. These communities are

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

, Lattimer, Minesville, Drifton, Harleigh, Sandy Run, Ebervale, Humboldt, Cranberry, Harwood, Stockton, and the

Eckley Miners' Village Eckley Miners' Village in eastern Pennsylvania is an anthracite coal mining patch town located in Foster Township, Pennsylvania. Since 1970, Eckley has been owned and operated as a museum by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. His ...

Hydrology

The level of

precipitation In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravitational pull from clouds. The main forms of precipitation include drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, ice pellets, graupel and hail. ...

in the watershed of the Jeddo Tunnel between 1996 and 1998 was per year. The average level of

surface runoff Surface runoff (also known as overland flow) is the flow of water occurring on the ground surface when excess rainwater, stormwater, meltwater, or other sources, can no longer sufficiently rapidly infiltrate in the soil. This can occur when th ...

during the same period was . The base runoff was inches and the

evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration (ET) is the combined processes by which water moves from the earth’s surface into the atmosphere. It covers both water evaporation (movement of water to the air directly from soil, canopies, and water bodies) and transpi ...

was inches. The Jeddo Tunnel is the largest carrier of water away from the Jeddo Tunnel watershed. There are several streams on the surface, such as Black Creek, Little Black Creek, Hazle Creek, and Cranberry Creek. Besides minepools, contributors to the flow of the tunnel include precipitation draining through mines, seepage of streams, and water falling through

sinkhole A sinkhole is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. The term is sometimes used to refer to doline, enclosed depressions that are locally also known as ''vrtače'' and shakeholes, and to openi ...

s and cave-ins. 39% of the Jeddo Tunnel's discharge, or per second, comes from the Black Creek watershed. 26%, or per second comes from the Cranberry Creek watershed. 21%, or per second, comes from the Hazle Creek watershed. 14%, or per second, comes from the Little Black Creek watershed. The tunnel's discharge is lowest in November. The specific conductance of the water in the Jeddo Tunnel is on average around 728 micromhos.

Water quality

More than of

acid In computer science, ACID ( atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) is a set of properties of database transactions intended to guarantee data validity despite errors, power failures, and other mishaps. In the context of databases, a sequ ...

drain from the Jeddo Tunnel into the Susquehanna River (via Little Nescopeck and Nescopeck Creeks) every day. At the end of the 1990s, the sulfate, iron, manganese, and aluminum levels in the Jeddo Tunnel were significantly lower than in previous years. The pH of the tunnel water has also risen significantly. The pH of the water in the Jeddo Tunnel ranges between approximately 3.6 and 5.0, and averages around 4.3. The tunnel water's pH level is the lowest at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The most commonly occurring

cation An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convent ...

in the water of the tunnel is

magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 of the periodic ta ...

, which occurs in concentrations of 52 mg/ L.

Calcium Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to ...

is another cation that occurs in the tunnel water, at concentrations of 35 mg/L.

Sodium Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin ''natrium'') and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. Sodium is an alkali metal, being in group 1 of the periodic table. Its only stable iso ...

and

potassium Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (from Neo-Latin ''kalium'') and atomic number19. Potassium is a silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife with little force. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmosphe ...

also occur in the water from the Jeddo Tunnel, at concentrations of 12 and 2.2 mg/L, respectively. There are also several other metals in the tunnel's water. The

iron Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from la, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in f ...

concentration ranges from 2 to 90 mg/L and averages at 9 mg/L. The

manganese Manganese is a chemical element with the symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal, often found in minerals in combination with iron. Manganese is a transition metal with a multifaceted array of industrial alloy use ...

concentration ranges from 1.4 to 6.8 mg/L and averages at 4.2 mg/L. The

aluminum Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It has ...

concentration ranges from 2.5 to 44 mg/L. The

zinc Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodi ...

concentration in the tunnel water averages at 0.7 mg/L. The iron, aluminum, and manganese concentrations are all several times higher than the ideal concentration. Common

anion An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convent ...

s in the tunnel's water include sulfate and

chloride The chloride ion is the anion (negatively charged ion) Cl−. It is formed when the element chlorine (a halogen) gains an electron or when a compound such as hydrogen chloride is dissolved in water or other polar solvents. Chloride salts ...

. These occur at concentrations of 284 and 13.5 mg/L, respectively. The concentration of

solid Solid is one of the State of matter#Four fundamental states, four fundamental states of matter (the others being liquid, gas, and Plasma (physics), plasma). The molecules in a solid are closely packed together and contain the least amount o ...

s in the water of the Jeddo Tunnel ranges between 265 and 6800 mg/L. The average concentration is 900 mg/L. The solids consist of 125 milligrams per liter of

suspended solids Suspended solids refers to small solid particles which remain in suspension in water as a colloid or due to motion of the water. Suspended solids can be removed by sedimentation if their size or density is comparatively large, or by filtration. It ...

and 140 to 6675 mg/L of dissolved solids. The concentration of solids in the water has been decreasing since at least the 1990s. An average of of aluminum, of manganese, and of iron per day flow through the Jeddo Tunnel..

History

The original builders of the Jeddo Tunnel suspected that the local farmers, who used Little Nescopeck Creek as their water supply, would not approve of mine waters from the tunnel polluting the creek. Because of this, the lawyer Thomas McNair bought the right of way along the creek. The basic geology of the Jeddo Tunnel's watershed was created 345 million years ago, during the

Carboniferous Period The Carboniferous ( ) is a Period (geology), geologic period and System (stratigraphy), system of the Paleozoic that spans 60 million years from the end of the Devonian Period million years ago (Myr, Mya), to the beginning of the Permian Period, ...

. The Jeddo Tunnel itself was established at the end of the 19th century.

John Markle John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

was one of the people involved in designing the tunnel; he spent three years and $1,000,000 on the construction of the tunnel. Two teams of workers used compressed air drills and

explosive An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An expl ...

s to build the tunnel from both ends. A total of 250 workers were involved in the construction of the tunnel. The construction finished on September 15, 1894. The construction of the Jeddo Tunnel used up 170 tons of forcite, a Belgian gel

dynamite Dynamite is an explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay), and Stabilizer (chemistry), stabilizers. It was invented by the Swedish people, Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel in Geesthacht, Northern Germa ...

.. The Jeddo Tunnel's original purpose was to remove the water from deep coal mines in the eastern middle anthracite field. However it also connects to mining operations near

Hazleton Hazleton may refer to: Places * Hazleton, British Columbia, Canada * Hazleton, Gloucestershire, a village in Gloucestershire, England ** Hazleton long barrows, Neolithic burial mounds at Hazleton, Gloucestershire, England ** Hazleton Abbey, a me ...

. The construction of the tunnel involved the channeling of streams, as well as the construction of haulageways. When constructed, the tunnel was considered to be an engineering marvel; however, in modern times, Alan C. Gregory describes it as "a dinosaur that survived extinction". The tunnel ceased to be used in 1955, when the deep-mining industry stopped, and the mines in the area were largely abandoned in 1961. However Pagnotti Enterprises still mines anthracite in the vicinity of the tunnel. The water quality of the Jeddo Tunnel has improved slightly since the deep-mining industry stopped. The Jeddo Tunnel has been the subject of a number of studies. Between 1949 and 1950, group led by a person named Ash gathered data on the tunnel's water quality and discharge. The Hazleton City Authority conducted a study at the beginning of the 1970s, attempting to determine if the tunnel's outflow was of suitable quality for

drinking water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, a ...

. The

United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...

monitored the tunnel's water quality and flow in 1975 and again in 1991. The Wildlife Conservancy, Bloomsburg University, and the

Susquehanna River Basin Commission The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) is a federal-interstate compact commission created by the Susquehanna River Basin Compact (Pub. L. 91-575) between three U.S states: (Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland), and the federal government, a ...

all studied the Jeddo Tunnel between 1995 and 1998. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory once conducted a study to determine whether it would be worthwhile to install a

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

system in the Jeddo Tunnel. Several studies have attempted to fix the pollution coming from the tunnel but their proposed plans cost at least $15,000,000 and take at least 20 years.

Construction of additional tunnels

The main tunnels of the Jeddo Tunnel A and B were built in 1895. In later years, several more tunnels were added to the system, increasing its length to close to . Jeddo Tunnel A goes from Ebervale Mammoth Vain slope number 2 to Little Nescopeck Creek and is long. Jeddo Tunnel B goes from Jeddo Mammoth Vain slope number 9 to the beginning of Jeddo Tunnel A, a distance of feet. Jeddo Tunnel C was created in 1926. It stretched from the Highland Number 5 mine to the beginning of Jeddo Tunnel B for a distance of . Jeddo Tunnel D was created in 1929. It stretched from Drifton Number 2 mine to the beginning of Jeddo Tunnel C for a distance of . The final addition to the Jeddo Tunnel was Jeddo Tunnel X, which was constructed in 1934. It started at the Hazleton Shaft Colliery and was long. It joins the main tunnel system at the confluence of Jeddo Tunnels A and B.

Environmental impact, media impact and controversies

The Jeddo Tunnel was initially received positively. The Philadelphia Press and the

New York Herald The ''New York Herald'' was a large-distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between 1835 and 1924. At that point it was acquired by its smaller rival the ''New-York Tribune'' to form the '' New York Herald Tribune''. His ...

both printed a piece on the tunnel on December 9, 1894, calling the tunnel a "remarkable feat of engineering". The water that the Jeddo Tunnel drains is

polluted Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the ...

due to past mining in its vicinity. The Jeddo Tunnel drains into

Little Nescopeck Creek Little Nescopeck Creek is a tributary of Nescopeck Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately long and flows through Butler Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Butler Township, Sugarloaf Township, Luzern ...

, thus polluting the creek and consequently Nescopeck Creek, the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River (; Lenape: Siskëwahane) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, overlapping between the lower Northeast and the Upland South. At long, it is the longest river on the East Coast of the ...

, and the

Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the ...

. The construction of the tunnel has partially contributed to the width of Little Nescopeck Creek increasing from around 10 feet to between 30 and 40 feet. The tunnel is the only source of acid mine drainage that flows into Little Nescopeck Creek. The Jeddo Tunnel has eroded the banks of Little Nescopeck Creek. One contaminant in the Jeddo Tunnel is

. The tunnel also discharges coal dust and

sediment Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of wind, water, or ice or by the force of gravity acting on the particles. For example, sand an ...

containing heavy metals. These materials collect along the banks of Little Nescopeck Creek. Two people were killed in the Jeddo Tunnel on February 5, 1894. The tunnel also takes in

sewage Sewage (or domestic sewage, domestic wastewater, municipal wastewater) is a type of wastewater that is produced by a community of people. It is typically transported through a sewer system. Sewage consists of wastewater discharged from residenc ...

hydrocarbon In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and hydrophobic, and their odors are usually weak or ex ...

s, and runoff pollution.

Reducing tunnel discharge

Several proposed measures have been introduced to reduce the

discharge Discharge may refer to Expel or let go * Discharge, the act of firing a gun * Discharge, or termination of employment, the end of an employee's duration with an employer * Military discharge, the release of a member of the armed forces from serv ...

of the Jeddo Tunnel. One of these methods is to seal fissures, cave-ins, and sinkholes in the Jeddo Tunnel watershed. This could reduce the Jeddo Tunnel's discharge by 11%. Diverting runoff from the hills around the coal basins near the Jeddo Tunnel is another method of reducing the tunnel's discharge, and this could reduce the discharge by 10%. Creating perimeter drains to pick up runoff from nearby ridges is another proposed method of reducing the tunnel's discharge.

References

{{coord, 41, 00, 18.6, N, 75, 59, 35.7, W, region:US-PA_type:landmark_scale:30000, display=title 1894 establishments in Pennsylvania coal mining in the United States drainage tunnels in the United States transportation buildings and structures in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania tunnels in Pennsylvania Mining in Pennsylvania Environment of Pennsylvania Tributaries of Nescopeck Creek Tunnels completed in 1894