An area used for storage of ash generated in a thermal power plant is located in an old gravel mine. The effluent from the ash pond is reclaimed and reused, without any treatment, for hydraulic transport of new ash. The pond has been used for about 12 years, and specific tests and groundwater analyses have been undertaken since 1975.

The concentration of inorganic constituents in the groundwater, measured at different distances from the pond, show that:

  • –

    the concentration of inorganic substances decreases with distance from the pollution source;

  • –

    an increase in the concentration of pollutants is found at the same points in consecutive years.

These patterns allow us to evaluate the influence of the ash pond on the soil environment and groundwater at the present time and in the future. With the help of the research mentioned and this specific case study, we are able to verify the model of migration of contaminants in soil.

Ash, groundwater, migration of salts in soil
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