Comparing Heavy Metal Mobility in Active and Abandoned Mining Sites at Bestari Jaya, Selangor

Recent issues on water scarcity have become major public concerns due to availability of safe potable water. The use of abandoned mining ponds as an alternative source of raw water supply has been recently initiated by the Selangor state water authority. This study investigates the potential mobility of heavy metals in both active and abandoned mining ponds at Bestari Jaya ex-mining area. The concentrations of heavy metals in abandoned mining ponds were below the Malaysian Ministry of Health allowable limits. Fe and Mn were found at concentrations above the limits of the Ministry of Health standards for raw water quality (2000) at the active sand mining area. There was an inverse relation between Fe and Mn in water and in sediment as pH changed. The concentration of heavy metals in water and sediment were Fe>Mn>Zn>Pb>Cu.