The Assessment of the Quality and Quantity of Water Retained in Closed Granite Quarries with the View to Mitigate the Effects of Droughts in Agriculture

Abstract

This paper presents the results of bathymetric measurements of quarry lakes located in inactive granite quarries (Poland, Lower Silesia, County Strzelin), which were used, among other reasons, to determine the surface area, depth, and volume of water retained in the analysed quarry lakes. The usability of water in quarry lakes for agricultural irrigation was also assessed, based on the FAO Guidelines and the PN-84/C-04635 standard. The average surface area of the analysed quarry lakes was 0.99 ha, the average depth was 6.0 m, and the maximum depth was 14.3 m. At the same time, the total volume of the retained water amounted to 307.8 thousand m3, which accounts for 10.6% of the retention capacity of water reservoirs situated in the catchment of the Oława River. The average values of water quality indicators were as follows: electrical conductivity—0.332 mS × cm−1; sodium adsorption ratio—0.56; total dissolved solids—212.4 mg/L; water pH—7.8; BOD5—2.4 mgO2/L. The mean concentrations of ions had the following values: nitrates—0.91 mgN-NO3−/L; sulphates—176.3 mg SO42−/L; chlorides—36.56 mg Cl−/L; sodium ions—14.8 mg Na+/L; calcium—41.3 mg Ca2+/L; magnesium—7.48 mg Mg2+/L; manganese—0.1 mg Mn/L; and iron—0.01 mg Fe/L. The concentrations of water quality indicators that were recorded for the analysed Strzelin quarry lakes were similar to those observed in natural lakes and uncharged water bodies. Water from the analysed quarry lakes met (with some minor limitations) the requirements that enable them to be used for agricultural irrigation. The volume of the water retained in the analysed quarry lakes constitutes an important element of the total balance of water retained in all the reservoirs, ponds, and all Strzelin quarry lakes situated in the catchment of the Oława River, accounting for 10.6% of the total volume of retained water. The article presents the innovative concept of the possibility of using water from quarry lakes in agriculture, based on their quantity and quality and the requirements for the purpose for which they will be used, e.g., for agricultural irrigation.

Effect of Hydraulic Structure on Mitigating Extreme Hydrological Conditions of a Small River in the Temperate Zone (Główna River, Central Europe)

“…In the context of the water balance, viable possibilities in the scope of increasing water availability are offered in reference to outflow regulation through an increase in retention. These objectives are implemented with the application of natural forms of land use [6] as well as technical solutions (dams, weirs) and reclamation of abandoned open pit mines to water reservoirs, artificial mine lakes, or quarry lakes [7][8][9][10]. The scale of activity primarily depends on the natural features of the environment and the economic needs of a given region.…”