Tracer tests as a tool for planning the monitoring of negative impacts of the Mozelj landfill (SE Slovenia) on karst waters

Abstract

IzvlečekUDK 504.054:556.34.04(497.4) Janja Kogovšek & Metka Petrič: Sledilni poskusi kot orodje za načrtovanje monitoringa negativnih vplivov odlagališča odpadkov Mozelj (JV Slovenija) na kraške vode Sledilni poskusi so ena izmed najbolj uporabni� raziskovalni� metod v kraški �idrogeologiji, pokazali pa so se kot zelo primerni tudi pri reševanju različni� aplikativni� problemov. V zadnji� leti� smo tako izvedli serijo sledilni� poskusov, ki so služili kot strokovna podlaga za izdelavo programa monitoringa kakovosti podzemne vode v vplivnem območju različni� virov onesnaženja. V članku je opisan primer sledenja z odlagališča komunalni� odpadkov Mozelj v jugovz�odni Sloveniji. Najprej smo testirali reprezentativnosti tre� vrtin za monitoring, ki so bile izvrtane na obrobju odlagališča. Kot je zaradi njegove �eterogene zgradbe v krasu pogost primer, vrtine niso zadele glavni� poti pretakanja vod z odlagališča, zato so kot objekti za monitoring neprimerne. Po drugi strani pa so bile ugotovljene značilnosti prenosa sledila skozi sistem in iztekanja skozi kraške izvire uporabljene kot osnova za izbiro najbolj primerni� kraški� izvirov za monitoring in za izdelavo ustreznega načrta vzorčenja, ki ga je potrebno prilagoditi �idrološkim razmeram. Ključne besede: kraška voda, sledilni poskus, monitoring, odlagališče odpadkov, Mozelj, Slovenija. Tracer tests are one of t�e most useful researc� met�ods in karst �ydrogeology and t�ey �ave proved a valuable tool in various applied projects. In recent years we carried out a series of tracer tests, and t�eir results were used as t�e bases for planning t�e monitoring of water quality in t�e influence areas of various pollution sources. In t�is paper, a case study of tracing at t�e landfill near Mozelj in sout�eastern Slovenia is described. The first goal was testing of t�e functioning of t�ree monitoring bore�oles, w�ic� were drilled at t�e margins of t�e landfill. As often �appens in �eterogeneous karst systems, t�ey did not intersect t�e main flow pat�s from t�e landfill and are not suitable as monitoring points. On t�e ot�er �and, t�e findings about t�e c�aracteristics of tracer transport in t�e karst system and outflow t�roug� t�e karst springs were used for identifying t�e most suitable springs for monitoring and preparing an adequate sampling plan, w�ic� s�ould be adapted to �ydrological conditions.

Geothermal drilling in an Alpine karst aquifer and its impact on downstream springs – A case study from Finkenberg, Tyrol, Austria

“…A short flow distance or travel time between drilling impact and sampling point is a likely prerequisite. However, in the setting of the construction project, tracers typically used in karsts appear to be unfeasible (Goldscheider et al 2008) and other methods approved in boreholes are unpromising (Kogovšek & Petrič 2010;Maurice et al 2011Maurice et al , 2012.…”

The problematics of cave pollution in Bela krajina

“…Several studies have already shown the problematic of communal landfills in karst areas of Slovenia, which greatly contribute to contamination of karst waters (e.g. Kogovšek & Petrič 2007, 2010. Beside communal landfills, illegal waste disposal is problematic in karst areas, due to their vulnerability and low self-purification processes (Ford & Williams 2007).…”

Development challenges in karst regions: sustainable land use planning in the karst of Slovenia

“…In a case study of the municipal landfill site near Mozelj in southeastern Slovenia (Kogovšek and Petrič 2010a), the functioning of three monitoring boreholes at the margins of the landfill was tested by a combination tracer test. The findings about the characteristics of tracer transport in the karst system and the outflow through karst springs were additionally used to identify the most suitable springs for monitoring and preparing an appropriate sampling regime.…”