Assessing the Ecosystem Processes of Ecological Infrastructure on Post-coal Mined Land
Physical, chemical and biological sampling at two points on each of four Mpumalanga watercourses, with wetland functionality assessment and mitigation recommendations, for mine environmental and water managers.
by R. Bezuidenhout, A.R. de Klerk & P.J. Oberholster | January 2017
Watercourses on post mined land near Kriel showed deterioration in manganese, calcium, magnesium, sodium, total dissolved salts and sulphate, while other parameters stayed within drinking water standards. Aquatic invertebrate communities had suffered significant losses and two sites were classified as eutrophic. The water is not fit for human consumption or recreation, and a minimum 32 m buffer from wetland boundaries is recommended after earthworks.
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