Physical and chemical properties of natural and anthropogenic groundwater outflows in the cieszyn foothills

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present the hydrographic and hydrochemical properties of the waters of old adits, which drained excavations after exploitation of iron ores. For this research, both the natural springs and control object have been identified. These are located in the Cieszyn Foothills. It has been shown that adit water has a higher average electrolytic conductivity (> 600 µS/cm) than natural spring water (<300 µS/cm). The increase in conductivity is undoubtedly influenced by the air supply to the excavations, which accelerates the rock weathering process. However, the increase in water mineralisation has no effect on the hydrochemical type of water. Adit waters and spring waters represent the same bicarbonate calcium (HCO3− - Ca2+) hydrochemical type. Adit waters show a small variation in water temperature in the annual cycle (Cv < 8%) compared to a natural spring (Cv -18%). Changes in the water temperature in the adits and the spring show high synchronism (r> 0.7).