Load of heavy metals in drainage waters in the Middle Sudety Mountains

Research were carried out in study site located in Stare Bogaczowice near Wa brzych. The daily drainage runoff measurements and periodical chemical analyses of water samples from selected drainage plots had been made. Concentrations of heavy metals: Cu, Zn, Zn, Pb, Cr i Cd had been measured. Drainage waters do not include significant amounts of heavy metals. Concentration of zinc, which is very common in nature, ranged from 0.018 to 0.675 mg Zn·dm-3, cadmium concentrations was somewhat larger then 0.001 mg Cd · dm-3. In spite of precipitations higher then in the other sites and because of low concentrations, the heavy metal loads had been very small. Regarding lead and nickel load did not exceed 70 g·ha-1·yr-1, and concerning copper, chromium and cadmium it was below 5.0 g·ha-1·yr-1. Heavy metals in drainage waters do not make serious threat on surface water body receivers.