Marek Sołtysiak

Abstract

This article presents research results on the water chemistry of 16 reservoirs adjacent to post-mining waste landfills in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, sampled in 2022 and 2023. The waters of these reservoirs are anthropogenically modified; in terms of hydrochemical type, they are multi-ionic waters: Cl––SO42––Na+, Cl––SO4––HCO3––Na2–,and Cl––SO42––HCO3––Na+–Ca2+. They are characterized by high electrical conductivity (EC; up to 21.5 mS/cm), high concentrations of Cl– (up to 9.279 mg/L), SO42– (up to 5.277 mg/L), and Na+ (up to 4.783 mg/L). They are considered waters of poor quality (class V) due to their increased concentrations of Cl– and SO42– and high ECvalues. The Comprehensive Pollution Index (CPI) was also used to assess the degree of water pollution. Calculations indicated that the waters are either moderately (0.47 < CPI < 1.92) or heavily polluted (CPI > 2). Research has also shown that areas reclaimed with mining waste are informal post-mining waste dumps and should be treated as potential sources of groundwater pollution. In nearby reservoirs, there is a potential threat to shallow (0-10 m) groundwater of the first aquifer, which is especially important when the first aquifer is being used.

Keywords: mining waste dumps, water reservoirs, Upper Silesian Coal Basin, environmental hazards

Marek Sołtysiak [marek.soltysiak@us.edu.pl], Institute of Earth Sciences University of Silesia in Katowice Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec: Poland
Jacek Różkowski [jacek.rozkowski@us.edu.pl], Institute of Earth Sciences University of Silesia in Katowice Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec: Poland