Protection of groundwater from migration of infiltrates from a chromic waste storage site and methods of treating these infiltrates

This work presents the results of investigations to develop and implement methods to effectively collect and purify infiltrates from heaps, situated in the region of Alwernia near Cracow, where more than 3 million tonnes of waste material resulting from the production of chromium compounds have been stored. It describes a system for the protection of groundwater from these infiltrates which contain 50-400 g m(-3) Cr6+, as well as the effectiveness of cheap and simple chemical methods to purify these chromic wastewaters. The infiltrate collection system and the most effective method to decrease the concentration of Cr6+ to a level below 0.1 ppm, as required by Polish and European Union regulations, were implemented in the Alwernia Chemical Works S.A. in the years 1998-1999.