ZANIECZYSZCZENIE CHROMEM WÓD PODZIEMNYCH W REJONIE CZĘSTOCHOWY

Abstract

GROUNDWATER POLLUTION WITH CHROMIUM NEAR CZĘSTOCHOWA

Abstract. Chromium is an element widely used in chemical and metallurgical industries that is the primary source of release of chromium compounds into the environment with industrial wastewater. An example of the region contaminated by chromium compounds is Częstochowa area. Wider research was undertaken in‘90s due to water pollution in the spacious and affluent fracture-karst reservoir MGWB No. 326N, associated with the Upper Jurassic carbonate formations. This MGWB is the main aquifer and a source of water for Częstochowa. The three hypotheses of chromium pollution pathways were formulated: (1) horizontal water flow with domination of dispersion processes, (2) deep horizontal flow with ascending movement of water to the contemporary drainage level, (3) migration of pollutants in surface water. Sampling of groundwater conducted in 2011 showed that compared to 1995, chromium pollution was reduced, although up to now the problem still exists and the directions and pathways of migration of contaminated Upper Jurassic groundwater have not been yet univocally identified.