Evaluation of contaminants spreading from sludge piles, applying geochemical fractionation and attenuation of concentrations model in a tropical reservoir.

Drinking water production may generate significant amounts of sludge, which may be contaminated with various metals. For the first time, the mobility/lability of contaminants from two water treatment sludge piles in the Juturnaíba Reservoir was evaluated by applying two geochemical approaches: sequential extractions and attenuation of concentrations model. Both procedures were applied to evaluate the mobility/lability of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn on samples collected in the sludge piles and in the neighborhood of both water treatment plants.

Volumetric modeling of two sludge piles from water treatment plants in a Brazilian reservoir.

Water treatment plants are designed to continuously produce drinkable water, meeting defined criteria of potability. However, besides potable water, these plants produce sludges that are disposed of in the environment. The present work aimed to evaluate the sludges generated in two water treatment plants and disposed of in the margin of the Juturnaíba dam.

Predicting pollutant concentrations in the water column during dredging operations: Implications for sediment quality criteria.

The development of new dredging techniques that can reduce, or at least predict, the environmental impacts, is in high demand by governments in developing countries. In the present work, a new methodology was developed, to evaluate the level of metals contamination (i.e.