Abstract

MOSCHINI-CARLOS, Viviane; POMPEO, Marcelo Luiz Martins; LOBO, Felipe de Lucia  and  MEIRELLES, Sergio Tadeu. Impact of coal mining on water quality of three artificial lakes in Morozini River Basin (Treviso, Santa Catarina State, Brazil). Acta Limnol. Bras. [online]. 2011, vol.23, n.3, pp. 271-281.  Epub Feb 29, 2012. ISSN 2179-975X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X2012005000007.

AIM: To assess water quality of three lakes located in an abandoned coal mining area, in the Morozini River basin (Treviso, Santa Catarina State, Brazil). METHODS: The study sites were three lakes mining pits flooded after deactivation, near the drainage basin of the Morozini River (Treviso City, Santa Catarina State, Brazil). Samplings were carried out in profile in the limnetic region during two seasons (Summer in February and Winter in July). RESULTS: In general, the three lakes showed high concentrations of SO₄^-2, Mg, Fe, Al, Ca, Ba, Si, Zn, Ni, Na, K, Sr, B, Cd, Cr, Pb and Cu. CONCLUSIONS: Coal mining activity and waste disposal practices adopted by the mining companies in the Morozini River basin have drastically affected the water quality of the examined lakes and made them inappropriate for diverse human uses, such as leisure, swimming and fishing.

Keywords : CONAMA; metals; water quality; acidification.