This article examines the impact of accumulated mining and processing waste (tailings) on the quality of groundwater used by the population of the Yaroslavsky settlement in Primorsky Territory for non-centralized water supply. It provides an in-depth analysis of the hydrogeochemical processes that determine the migration of pollutants from fluorite ore tailings into groundwater horizons. The study reveals that the mineralization of the tailing dump’s waters has increased and they contain toxic components (Be, As, Li, Cd, etc.) belonging to hazard classes 1–2. A toxicological risk assessment was carried out, revealing a slight exceedance of the maximum permissible concentration of Mn in one of the water supply sources, while concentrations of other monitored elements are below normative levels. Methods and indicators for assessing groundwater pollution (e.g. comparison with sanitary norms and integral pollution indices) are described. Recommendations for monitoring and risk management are proposed, including continuous water quality control, tailings dam reinforcement and emergency situation prevention. It is concluded that, currently, the quality of the studied groundwater meets sanitary requirements. However, there is still a potential risk of contamination in the event of tailings dam instability or extreme natural occurrences.
A.V. Vetoshkina (Wed,) studied this question.