Abstract

The impact of runoff from coal mine on water quality of Ashopa river was investigated. Sampling points of river water include two upstream locations up to 200 m from discharge point, the discharge point, two points downstream and the runoff. The quality of the river was compared with that of some rivers from other parts of the world and with established standard (APCELS). The river water contained high average value of suspended solids (342 mg/L) and hardness (435 mg/L), but low concentrations of phosphate (3.3 mg/L), sulphate (4.4 mg/L), nitrate (0.44 mg/L), chloride (2.65 mg/L) and COD (20.8 mg/L). The pH and temperature were fairly constant. In addition, the overall concentrations of heavy metals were at baseline levels except Fe (5.5 mg/L). The impact of the runoff was low as there was no significant difference in water quality between upstream and downstream.

Keywords

Runoff, Assessment, Physicochemical properties, Surface water