Innovative Mine Water Treatment in Post-Mining-Areas of Germany

摘要

The lignite mining dominated landscape in the Lausitz and Leipzig district is characterized by a vast mined-out area which includes 240 km~2 pit lakes. The groundwater depression cone covers an area of about 2100 km~2 at the Lausitz, and 1200 km~2 in the Leipzig district. Water treatment is required either for the lake water bodies or the discharge waters. Besides conventional liming, development work is carried out on test implementation with soda ash. Alkalinity losses have been recognized due to sediment exchange. Innovative technologies are developed for in situ aquifer treatment by microbial sulfate reduction, resulting in a 40 % sulfate reduction as well as a 90 % iron reduction. Future development is to be carried out in the groundwater flow alongside a river bank.