Abstract
The paper highlights the current situation of the quality of surface water in the areas influenced by mining activities in the north-western part of Romania. In this respect a series of investigations have been conducted regarding the contamination with heavy metals of the water of the Someş and Tisa hydro- graphic Basins, which cover the northern part of Maramures County and the south-western area of Maramures County, respectively. The results of the comparative research refer to the period between 1999 and 2011 and reveal the specific heavy metal ions of mining activity: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb Cd and Ni, as well as the water pH. The presented values as annual average values reveal an increase in several heavy metals after the closure of mines, which is due to the lack of effectiveness of the closure and of the conservation of the mine galleries, as well as of the impaired functioning of the mining wastewater treatment plants.
Highlights
The presence of heavy metals in the aquatic environment represents an intensely studied issue
This might be explained by the influence of the Baia Borşa mining perimeters (Cornu Nedeii, Dealul Negru, Burloaia, Colbu, Gura Băii, Toroiaga mining exploitations) especially with the mining wastewaters uploaded with heavy metals and sediments from Colbu, D1, D2, D3 mining dumps, as well from the Baia Borşa Ores processing plant
To highlight the influence of the mining activities on the quality of the surface water in Maramures, research on ten hydrographic sections belonging to the Tisa hydrographic Basin and Someş hydrographic Basin were carried out for the years 1999, 2007, 2009 and 2011
Summary
The presence of heavy metals in the aquatic environment represents an intensely studied issue. The sources of water pollution are various but the mining activity has the highest impact, which means the exploitation and the processing of ores. Major attention was given to the mining impact on the quality of water, and the content in heavy metals (cadmium, lead, copper, manganese, zinc, iron, arsenic etc) using various investigation techniques (Bird, et al, 2003; Macklin, et al, 2006; Kraft, et al, 2006; Roman, et al, 2008)
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