The Impact of Exploiting Lignite in Lupoaia Open Pit on Environmental Water

Abstract

Abstract The impact of extracting lignite in Lupoaia open pit over waters is local and regional, and temporary. The hydrographic network in Lupoaia open pit depends on River Motru, with its afluents, Ploștina and Lupoița Valley Rivers. The aquifers are to be found in the coal layers V-XII, mainly of sands formation. The impact over water in Lupoaia consists of water pollution and of changes in both the quality and the quantity of ground and surface waters. The surface waters are polluted resulting in industrial wastewaters, household wastewaters and waste rainwater. The wastewater is polluted within maximum admitted limits. The quality of groundwaters is influenced and modified by extracting coal resulting in the extinction of some aquifers. Environmental risks that can occur when extracting lignite are water floods, landslides, disasters which can be prevented by building guard channels around the open pit. The actions for reducing the impact are, in general, accomplished through monitoring both the water pollutants and the morphological changes caused by extracting lignite. That is why wastewater treatment plants must function. The impact of the activity in Lupoaia open pit over the hydrographic net of the area is to be observed during the entire extracting period, and monitoring this activity is highly demanded by the European environmental protection laws.