Water Quality of the Gualaxo do Norte and Carmo Rivers After the Fundão Dam Collapse, Mariana, MG

We investigated the effects of Fe-mining tailings of the Fundão dam on water quality, concerning physical and chemical parameters, aiming to infer the recovery process of the affected areas, and prospects of water quality in the coming years. Water quality data from the Gualaxo do Norte and Carmo ri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2021-04, Vol.232 (4), Article 155
Main Authors: Santana, Felipe C., Francelino, Márcio R., Schaefer, Carlos E. G. R., Veloso, Gustavo V., Fernandes-Filho, Elpídio I., Santana, Adalgisa de J. P., Timo, Lucas B., Rosa, André P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Cadmium
Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts
Copper
Dams
Dilution
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Environmental monitoring
Evaluation
Headwaters
Hydrogeology
Iron
Manganese
Mine tailings
Mine wastes
Mineral industry
Mining industry
Mitigation
Rain
Rainfall
Rainy season
Recovery
Rivers
Rupture
Rupturing
Soil Science & Conservation
Tailings
Turbidity
Water quality
Water Quality/Water Pollution
Wet season
Zinc
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Summary:We investigated the effects of Fe-mining tailings of the Fundão dam on water quality, concerning physical and chemical parameters, aiming to infer the recovery process of the affected areas, and prospects of water quality in the coming years. Water quality data from the Gualaxo do Norte and Carmo rivers were evaluated in three moments: (i) before the dam rupture (1999–2000), (ii) 1 year after the rupture of the Fundão dam (2016), and (iii) after the implementation of recover mitigation activities (2017–2019). Concerning the variables evaluated, the mean concentrations of Fe and Mn were higher in the dry period, and increasing turbidity was detected in the rainy season. The turbidity, even after the recovery measures, peaked at 300 and 400 NTU in 2017 and 2019, respectively. The concentrations of dissolved Fe, Mn, and Cr, closely related to the tailings, decreased with rainfall by a dilution mechanism. Conversely, the concentrations of Cd, Al, Zn, and Cu increased in the rainy season, probably by greater erosion. The implementation of the recovery actions at the Gualaxo do Norte headwaters are helping to reduce the Mn and Fe concentrations and turbidity downriver, all associated with the Fe-mining tailings.
ISSN:0049-6979
1573-2932
DOI:10.1007/s11270-021-05113-3