The influence of metal source uncertainty on cost-effective allocation of mine water pollution abatement in catchments.
In mine water pollution abatement, it is commonly assumed that known mine waste sites are the major pollution sources, thus neglecting the possibility of significant contribution from other old and diffuse sources within a catchment. We investigate the influence of different types of pollution source uncertainty on cost-effective allocation of abatement measures for mine water pollution. A catchment-scale cost-minimization model is developed and applied to the catchment of the river Dalälven, Sweden, in order to exemplify important effects of such source uncertainty. Results indicate that, if the pollution distribution between point and diffuse sources is partly unknown, downstream abatement measures, such as constructed wetlands, at given compliance boundaries are often cost-effective. If downstream abatement measures are not practically feasible, the pollution source distribution between point and diffuse mine water sources is critical for cost-effective solutions to abatement measure allocation in catchments. In contrast, cost-effective solutions are relatively insensitive to uncertainty in total pollutant discharge from mine water sources.
Baresel
Christian
C
Department of Land and Water Resources Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Brinellvägen 32, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden. barasel@kth.se
Destouni
Georgia
G
Gren
Ing-Marie
IM
D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008906:Mining; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D045483:Rivers; D013548:Sweden; D035501:Uncertainty; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014881:Water Supply; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics
D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc