Scholarly record

MANAGEMENT AND CLEAN-UP OF GROUND-AND SURFACE WATERS, POLLUTED WITH RADIONUCLIDES, AS A RESULT OF URANIUM MINING ACTIVITIES IN THE BUHOVO AREA, BULGARIA

Hanspeter Tomschi, Michael Eckart, Hans Jurgen Pickel

Abstract

Uranium mining and milling in the palaeozoic schists and intrusions in the Buhovo area N of Sofia started in 1946 and abruptly ended in 1990. In order to minimize adverse effects on the hydrosphere a complex water management system was developed. The main purpose of this water management system was to provide control- and monitoring tools, enabling the heirs of the defunct mining area to reduce the inherent risks of the different water sources on the affected population’s health. The areas of critical influence on the hydrosphere were identifies (hot-spots). These areas include 1. several extrusion points of contaminated mine water (present and future) 2. seepage water from mine dumps with critical Sulfide- and Uranium concentrations 3. seepage water from the tailings ponds 4. influence of contaminated mine water on surrounding (uncontaminated) aquifers As a result of the project several short, medium and long term measures were identified, which will (and already do) minimize the health risk of the population even below the legally acceptable level at a reasonable technical and financial effort. The selected technical means were kept a minimal level to ensure long term sustainability, however, necessitating the application of long term monitoring and water management.

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