Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2021, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (4): 175-183.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2020.10.1

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Water quality analysis and pollution evaluation of the main rivers in the Tongling mining area

WANG Chunguang(), LIU Junxing*(), GENG Hao, JIA Han, YIN Xianyang, CHI Haoxuan   

  1. 1. Geological Institute of China Chemical Geology and Mine Bureau, Beijing 100101, China
    2. Technology Innovation Center for Ecological Restoration Engineering in Mining Area, Ministry of Natural Resources,Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2020-05-12 Revised:2020-10-15 Online:2021-07-25 Published:2021-07-25
  • Contact: LIU Junxing

Abstract:

The Tongling mining area is an important copper and iron resource base in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and also a typical sulphur-containing polymetallic mining area, where acid mine drainage is an unavoidable environmental problem affecting especially surface water. Here, we studied the main rivers in the Tongling mining area. Through field investigation and laboratory analysis, the water quality status, in terms physical and chemical properties, acid mine drainage, and heavy metal elements, was evaluated; and the pollution status was assessed using the Nemerow water quality index method. The results show: (1) Organic waste and mine acid drainage were the primary source of river pollution, followed by heavy metals. (2) According to the comprehensive pollution index, 93.48% of the 46 river sections were polluted with the following water quality grades: 4.35% seriously polluted, 13.04% heavily polluted, 65.22% polluted, and 10.87% lightly polluted. Only 6.52% of the river sections had good quality clean water. (3) The three most polluted rivers, ranked by pollution index, were Xinqiao River, Shun’an River, and Red Star River, all, except the Shun’an River, were polluted by acid mine dranage. Hence, we should pay more attention to the pollution mechanism and risk assessment of acid mine drainage and strengthen water environmental protection and restoration in the mining area.

Key words: sulfur-containing polymetallic mining area, river water quality, acid mine drainage, Tongling, the Yangtze River downstream

CLC Number: