Rainfall Storage Capacity of a Phosphogypsum Stack

by Anthony Annibali

Submitted : Fall 2013

The goal of this project is to use calculations to estimate amount of rainfall, given specific timeframes, that would cause the water levels to overflow in the cooling/surge pond system of a phosphogypsum stack.  This is calculated using the current storage capacity of the system, the rate at which the water is flowing out of the system, due to treatment, and the amount of rainfall entering the system within a 24-hour period without treatment and a 48-hour period with treatment initiated once the “must treat” trigger level is reached.  The project is a depiction of the application of mathematics in the field of environmental science.  It exemplifies how calculations which ultimately play a role in protecting the environment from the pollution and waste of a phosphogypsum stack.

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