Influence of contaminated Vistula River water on the groundwater entering the Zakrzowek limestone quarry, Cracow region, Poland

Chemical composition of water inflows in the Zakrzowek quarry, developed in fractured and karstified Upper Jurassic limestones, is controlled by infil tration of polluted water from the Vistula River and by infiltrating meteor ic water. The river water TDS value is 2.5 g/dm(3). The quarry waters have 0.6-2.0 g/dm(3) TDS. Highly mineralised waters belong to Cl-Na type. With d ecreasing TDS the percentage of sulphates, calcium, magnesium and hydrocarb onates increases. This seems to result from various processes including dil ution of polluted river water, leaching of aquifer rocks, and ion exchange. The transfer time of river water to the quarry is about 100-120 days. Conc entration of contaminants contained in the river water declines during the migration through limestones to the quarry.