Mine Water and The Environment, Vol12, Annual Issue, 1993, pp 1-10 IMPACT OF LEADIZINC ORE MINING ON GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN TRZEBIONKA MINE (SOUTHERN POLAND) Bogumil Gajowiec State Geological Institute, Uppe Silesian Branch Sosnowiec ul.Bialego 1, Poland Andrzej Witkowski Silesian University, Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Sosnowiec ul.Mielczarskiego 60 Poland ABSTRACT The intensive mining activity camed out by "Trzebionka" zinc-lead mine causes chadges in the hydrodynamic regime of the massic aquifer as well as essential changes in the chemical composition of the groundwater.The mine water, in comparison with groundwaters collected directly from fractures and Karstic channels and with groundwaters pumped out fkom wells situated in Chrzanow region, is characterized by higher contents of almost all major dissolved constituents as, well as, many trace elements. Hydrogeochemical background of massic carbonate series aquifer has been elaborated. Largest anomalies in extent of almost all elements have occurred in area of the "Tnebionka" mine. In this water general trend of increase of*pH, total dissolved solids and SO42- concentration with simultanwus trends of decrease of ~n2+ and pb2+ concentrations have been noticed. Water pumped out from the mine in spite of its low quality, is utilized in about 80% as potable water after undergoing complicated treatment. INTRODUCTION Fissured - Karstic basin of the Triassic carbonate series in Chrzanow region (southern Poland), is a very important source of potable water for this part of a great urban and industrial agglomeration of the Upper Silcsian Coal Basin. It is subjected to a strong anthropogenic pressure which leads to the degradation of water quality and depletion of water reserves. This influence is exesperated at "Trzebionka" zinc-lead mine where the impact of mining on groundwater regime and quality is particularly important in considerationof fact that more than 50% of all water pumped out from the coal basin is mine water Mine Water and the Environment | © International Mine Water Association 2006 | www.IMWA.info Reproduced from best available copy