Marković, Radmila Marjanović, Vesna Stevanović, Zoran Gardić, Vojka Petrović, Jelena Kovačević, Renata Štirbanović, Zoran Friedrich, Bernd application/pdf 2414102 bytes 2024 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:4948 doi:10.3390/met14060649 cobiss:148155657 ISSN: 2075-4701 info:eu-repo/semantics/article Metals vol. 14 br. 6 str. 1-17 Keywords: metal ions; copper production; mining and metallurgy; environment; wastewater; surface water. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode Importance of changes in the copper production process through mining and metallurgical activities on the surface water quality in the Bor area, Serbia Abstract: This paper considers the impact of copper mining-influenced water and metallurgical wastewater on the surface water in the Bor area, Serbia. Sampling, realized through the four campaigns (2020–2021), confirmed that both types of water, discharged without appropriate treatment in the Bor River, had a signific impact on the concentration of metal ions, pH and electrical conductivity on the watercourse in the Bor area. The highest concentrations of the following metal ions, Cu—271 mg/L, As—25,991 μg/L, Ni—13,856 μg/L, Cd—2627 μg/L, and Pb—2855 μg/L, were registered in the metallurgical wastewater samples. After changes occurred in the copper production process by stopping the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Bor River, the concentrations of monitored elements were drastically decreased. In the period 2022–2024, the concentration values for Cu, As and Pb ions were below the maximum allowable value, and the concentration values of Ni and Cd ions were also decreased. The values for pH and electrical conductivity were in the maximum allowable range. The return of wastewater to the copper production process would lead to both a reduction in the primary water consumption and reduction in the negative impact on the environment. eng