Heavy metals in outflows from a sewage treatment plant and in waters and sediments of ponds supplied with them

The examination of total amounts of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn) was conducted in the outflow from a sewage treatment plant and in the waters and sediments of ponds supplied with them. As the water passed through the pond system, a decrease of heavy metal concentrations in the post-treatment sewage water supplying the ponds was observed. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in the outflow from the sewage treatment plant and lower concentrations were observed in the water of pond 1 (except for Zn), which was the direct receiver of post-treatment sewage, while the lowest values were noted in the final pond. The concentration of heavy metals in the sediments decreased in consecutive ponds. The highest concentrations were determined in the sediment of pond 1 that received the post-treatment sewage directly from the sewage treatment outflow, whereas the lowest values were estimated in the sediments of pond number 4, which was the final pond in the system.