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Metal content in the waters of the upper Sanna River catchment (SE Poland): condition associated with drilling of a shale gas exploration wellbore

Environmental Earth Sciences volume 74, pages 6681–6691 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Detailed research on the content of heavy metals in ground and surface waters in the upper Sanna River catchment was initiated in 2013. The investigations were conducted in one of the most promising areas of potential shale gas extraction, in which the Frampol 1 test wellbore was drilled in 2012 (SE Poland, Roztocze Region). In the area of the wellbore, hydrochemical analyses of the waters of the river drainage zone were performed. Water was sampled from six objects representing soil water, porous groundwater, fissure-layer groundwater, and river water. The hydrological regime of groundwater and surface water was analysed based on data obtained from automatic recorders of water levels and results of periodic measurements of water flow. In 2013, water was sampled on a monthly basis for determination of the levels of Ba, Sr, Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, As, V, Rb, Pb, Th, and U. The analysis results showed that the concentration of Sr was usually in the range of 100–400 µg/L, Fe 10–100 µg/L, Ba 10–40 µg/L, and Mn, Al, and Zn 1–10 µg/L. The concentration of the other metals generally did not exceed 1 µg/L. The concentrations of the elements analysed in the zone of drinking water intake were within the range specified by Polish and WHO standards. Significant differences were found in the metal content in the analysed waters; they were related to the water intake site, form of land management, and hydrometeorological conditions. The highest metal content was recorded in soil and river waters and the lowest in the spring waters of the main water-bearing horizon. At the current stage of the research, no impact of the Frampol 1 shale gas exploration wellbore on the metal content in the upper Sanna River catchment was found.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their criticism and valuable comments on the manuscript. We would also like to thank Mrs. Anna Zoń, M.A., who has improved our English. The study results presented in the publication were obtained under the project “Recharge and drainage in the border zone of the Lublin Upland and Roztocze” funded by the National Science Centre by virtue of decision no. DEC-2012/05/N/ST10/03963 and by funds granted under the Statutory Research “Young Staff and PhD Students” by the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geographical Information System Laboratory, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria-Curie Skłodowska University, Kraśnicka 2 c, d, 20-718, Lublin, Poland

    Łukasz Chabudziński

  2. Department of Hydrology, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria-Curie Skłodowska University, Kraśnicka 2 c, d, 20-718, Lublin, Poland

    Stanisław Chmiel & Zdzisław Michalczyk

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  1. Łukasz Chabudziński
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  2. Stanisław Chmiel
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  3. Zdzisław Michalczyk
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Correspondence to Łukasz Chabudziński.

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Chabudziński, Ł., Chmiel, S. & Michalczyk, Z. Metal content in the waters of the upper Sanna River catchment (SE Poland): condition associated with drilling of a shale gas exploration wellbore. Environ Earth Sci 74, 6681–6691 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4668-0

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Keywords

  • Heavy metals
  • Water quality
  • Shale gas
  • Lublin Upland
  • Roztocze Region
  • Poland