Heavy metal and water quality at settling ponds of a post-mining area after reclamation and revegetation at Cibadak Sukabumi, Indonesia

We analyzed the heavy metals and water quality of a post-mining area of ​​silica for material of cement factory. The research was located in the Cibadak district, Sukabumi West Java Indonesia. The water sampling method was carried out in two locations, namely a large settling pond and a small settling pond. Water quality parameters were analyzed such as pH, alkalinity, turbidity, total organic matter, and total ammonia nitrogen. The results showed that the water in both pond contents heavy metals. The heavy metals in the form were Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Arsen (As), Ferrum (Fe), and Cromium (Cr6+) in the both settling ponds. However, in small ponds there was a higher Fe value so the water is yellowish. There is a difference in acidity showed in the two ponds, pH 3-4 in the small pond and the large pond pH 7-8. Total organic matter was higher in large pond. Small settling pond has a very low pH value, so they are classified as acidic waters and contain high iron content so they cannot be used for human needs or aquatic life. Large settling ponds can still be used for aquaculture activities.

The Preliminary Study for Increasing the Productivity of Unit Tamban Lowland Irrigation Area based on Fact Findings of Observations

Unit Tamban is a fork system of lowland irrigation areas in Kapuas District. It has three primary canals, and each of them has a settling pond at the end. Most of the 3,506 ha planting area still apply once a year cropping patterns. A quick assessment based on field observations is carried out to determine the existing problems, including water management, water quality, and soil quality. The problem in the water management system is silting in the primary and secondary canals. The settling pond at the primary canal was no longer functioning, and it makes the silting worse because the water flow became uncontrolled. Water quality is measured with pH and TDS, the average pH at canal water was 4,22, and TDS was 71 mg/l. The soil type is mainly acid sulphate with pyritic materials, mostly 70 cm below the surface. Increasing cropping patterns twice a year requires improving the water circulations and increasing the soil pH higher than five. The problem in the secondary canal is expected to solve by changing the flow pattern from two way to 1-way flow is needed to avoid dead spots of water so that the leaching processes can work well.

Evaluation of heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Zn) distribution in base metal mining area at Sangkaropi: implication for land use planning

Settling-pond treatment systems have been applied in the base-metal mining area at Sangkaropi, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, before being discharged into the Koyan River through the agriculture area. This study aims to conduct a valuation of pollutant Pb, Cu and Zn in areas impacted by base-metal mining in sediment materials as a sensitive indicator for monitoring contaminants in the aquatic environment. Sediment sampling location, the first is in the upstream before the mining location, the second is located in the mining area to settling pond, and the third is in the area after settling-pond to the agriculture area. The concentrations of heavy metal were analyzed using uses AAS method. The assessment is performed based on the value of contamination degree, enrichment of heavy metal pollutant and ecological risk. The arrangement of the average frequency of heavy metal concentrations is Pb>Cu>Zn, which Cf and I-geo values have the almost same behavior. All metal in the upstream and agriculture site is classified as a low category, the Cu on the second and third sites is moderate. The assessment results from this study represent that Pb has a considerable ecological risk category value. However, polluted-Cu are categorized moderately need to be cautious, because metal enrichment comes from mineralization bedrock in the river. Therefore, the result of this study shows that geologic data, especially mineralized bedrocks associated the heavy metal concentration, should be taken into consideration in land-use planning policy in areas that have been impacted by mining and in the assessment of environmental health impacts.

Morphological Features of Plants on Ash Settling Ponds. Case Study

Owing to variable water conditions, chemical conditions of water or ash substrate, ash settling ponds belong to anthropogenic objects which do not easily undergo plant succession. However, there are plants exhibiting biological traits allowing colonisation of a substrate characterised by variability in terms of acidity and heavy metal content. The aim of the study was to determine differences in morphology of plants colonising spontaneous surfaces of ash settling ponds with variability moisture level. We identified also differences in morphology of the plants. Identified: Agrostis stolonifera, Atriplex patula, Juncus bufonius, Phragmites australis, Poa pratensis and Ranunculus sceleratus. The obtained results broaden the knowledge on the bioremediation of degraded areas, indicate species that inhabit the surface of ash settlers. Lower water level in ash settling pond I created more favourable conditions for growth of the aboveground parts of plants, and higher waterlevel in ash settling pond II contributed to a more intensive development of the root part of plants. Considering the generative factors and measurement values of the aboveground part of plants, the best adapted species were Juncus bufonius and Atriplex patula. Due to changing water level in ash settling ponds, the species to be monitored is Phragmites australis—most deeply colonising the surface of ash settling ponds.

Development of tools to assess and mitigate the impacts of peat harvesting on aquatic ecosystems

<p>Peat harvesting in an important industry in northern Europe and in North America. In Canada peat is harvested to be used as a horticulture substrate. The harvesting is generally done by vacuuming the thin dried upper layer of peat found below the acrotelm, after removing the latter and draining the water. Drained water is typically routed to settling basins prior to being released in neighbouring natural water courses. This communication summarizes our research efforts to develop tools to optimize settling pond design and minimize suspended sediment loads and to provide the industry with means to assess the health of aquatic ecosystems that receive the drained water.</p><p>Current settling pond designs are based on simple rules of thumb (e.g. 25 m<sup>3</sup>/ha of harvested peatland). In our study, a hydraulic model was used to test different basin configurations (basins with and without weirs at the outlet, basins in series, basins equipped with a geotextile curtain). It was found that while the trapping efficiency was not significantly improved by adding a second basin compared to a single one, adding a geotextile curtain improved the trapping of coarser sediments. Our results moreover showed that fine sediments deposited during low flow periods, in the downstream end of the basins, could be easily resuspended during and after rainfall events, thus showing the importance of frequent maintenance. There are also some strong indications that wind erosion could be a major source of sediments in the drainage water.</p><p>Different indicators of stream ecosystem health were compared to quantify the impact of peat harvesting on the receiving water bodies. They included 1) using fish abundance and species richness; 2) quantifying sediment deposition and its organic content; 3) determining ionic composition of effluents and receiving waters; and 4) developing a water quality index (WQI) based on multiple physico-chemical measurements (ammonia, conductivity, pH and suspended sediment concentrations). The developed WQI was shown to be the most promising indicator of ecosystem health and allows for a simple classification of water quality downstream of the confluence between the drain outlet and the receiving stream.</p>

Pengaruh Volume Tampung Kolam Settling pond Terhadap Pengelolaan Air Limbah Pertambangan Batubara di PT. XXX, Kalimantan Timur

Pertambangan batubara dengan sistem tambang terbuka memiliki dampak salah satunya adalah air limbah yang wajib dikelola. Pengelolaan air limbah harus memperhatikan rancangan dimensi settling pond, dimana dimensi settling pond tersebut dipengaruhi oleh debit limpasan dari areal terbuka akibat aktivitas penambangan. Permasalahan air limbah dari kegiatan pertambangan batubara di PT. Multi Harapan Utama adalah kadang terlampauinya baku mutu air limbah yang telah dipersyaratkan dan ada potensi debit air limbah yang tidak mampu tertampung pada settling pond. Berdasarkan hasil analisis data masih terdapat parameter pH yang belum memenuhi baku mutu pada outlet settling pond TJL Utara-01 yaitu 4,93 dan TJL Selatan yaitu 4,96 dimana nilai ambang batas baku mutu pah adalah 6 – 9. Parameter yang wajib dipantau untuk kegiatan pertambangan batubara berdasarkan Perda Kaltim 02 tahun 2011 yaitu pH, TSS, Fe dan Mn. kualitas air limbah yang dikelola pada settling pond di PT. Multi Harapan Utama dipengaruhi oleh volume tampung kolam, dimana nilai volume tampung kolam settling pond TJL Utara-01 sebesar 2,79 m3/jam, TJL Utara-02 sebesar 95,63 m3/jam dan untuk TJL Selatan sebesar 23,58 m3/jam.

Waste Wash-Water Recycling in Ready Mix Concrete Plants

The management of waste wash-water (WWW) is one of the most significant environmental problems associated with ready-mix concrete production worldwide. The problems are exacerbated should it be disposed of in an inappropriate manner. This study evaluated the potential of WWW recycling in ready mix concrete plants in Jordan. A representative waste wash-water sample (400 L) was collected from a basin in a ready-mix concrete company. A pilot plant on the lab scale was fabricated and installed. The treatment system consisted of a concrete washout reclaimer, wedgebed slurry settling pond, slow sand filtration unit, and a neutralization unit. Water samples were collected from all stages of the pilot plant and analyzed. The collected waste wash-water samples were utilized for replacement of well water (mixing water) at various ratios. Fourteen concrete mixtures were produced and cast, as well as tested at various curing ages (7, 28, and 90 days). The results show that the raw WWW was not acceptable as mixing water even after dilution as it led to significant reductions in concrete compressive strength and low workability. However, the WWW from the settling pond, the filtered WWW and the filtered-neutralized WWW at dilution ratios up to 75% were shown to be potential alternatives to fresh water for ready-mixed concrete. Therefore, the current guidelines for mixing water quality should be revised to encourage the reuse of the WWW.