Impact of regional groundwater flow on the water quality of an old post-mining lake

Investigations have been carried out on a post-mining lake (Lake Senftenberg) near the town of Senftenberg, Germany, which was flooded 25 years ago. In its close vicinity several mines have just been abandoned or will be abandoned in the next few years. A change of the local hydrologic flow system i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological engineering 2001-07, Vol.17 (2), p.133-142
Main Authors: Werner, F, Bilek, F, Luckner, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Freshwater
Geochemical mass balance calculations
Germany, Senftenberg, Senftenberg L
Post-mining lakes
Reaction modeling
Regional groundwater flow
Water quality
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Summary:Investigations have been carried out on a post-mining lake (Lake Senftenberg) near the town of Senftenberg, Germany, which was flooded 25 years ago. In its close vicinity several mines have just been abandoned or will be abandoned in the next few years. A change of the local hydrologic flow system is expected. All water levels in post-mining lakes in this area will be controlled to maintain a level low enough to prevent buildings from being damaged. The lakes and most surface waters in this area are influenced by acidic mine drainage. Based on a regional groundwater model, geochemical mass balance calculations were performed. Water quality changes due to the oxidation, hydrolysis and precipitation of metals were investigated. These calculations reveal a high probability of acidification for the investigated Lake Senftenberg. The surrounding post-mining lakes will reach a higher water level than Lake Senftenberg. Thus, after 2010, ground water from the north will flow through large overburden dumps and infiltrate Lake Senftenberg.
ISSN:0925-8574
1872-6992
DOI:10.1016/S0925-8574(01)00061-1