Water+Quality


 * __ Water quality in mining lakes __**

The Leipzig area is characterized by large brown coal open pit mines south of the city, which were in active use until 1990. But then they were closed and when the mining assurance and the remediation of them was finished, the old coal pits were flooded. Now, the most lakes, which are created in former mining areas, have a very good or a good water quality (for example the Cospudner See). Here are many aquatic plants and plenty of fish, this shows how good the quality is. But some lakes (for example the Hainer and the Zwenkauer See) are to acid. Because of that they pour burnt lime in these lakes to become a neutral ph-number.

Here are photos of some lakes:
 * 1) Cospudener See
 * 2) Markleeberger See
 * 3) Störmthaler See
 * 4) Bockwitzer See
 * 5) Hainer See



This statistic is about the ph-numbers of the Delitzsch region (Delitzsch is a city near Leipzig and in the north of Saxony) and the lakes in the South region of Leipzig. The pictures on the left side show the water quality from 2007 and the pictures on the right side from 2010. The pie charts depict the summary of this. As you can see from the left pie chart, 13 lakes had a neutral quality and 4 were lowly acid. 8 lakes were too acid. The right pie chart indicate that 5 more lakes became neutral. Only 3 were extremely acid and again 3 were heavily acid. One lake is between heavily acid and neutral. By now more lakes got neutral or lowly acid.

__** Influence of the water quality in mining lakes for the development of ecosystems **__



What was once an eyesore of Leipzig, is now the pride of the city. The lignite coalfields, which destroyed the ecosystem by the mining until 1995, are now referred as the Pearl of Leipzig, with beautiful, artificial waters that give the Leipzig region a new shine. The Neuseenland is very popular as a water recreation paradise. The Cospudener lake is surround by woods and fields. The water is crystal-clear and there is a beach. Promenades with restaurants, beer gardens, bars, cafes, hotels, shops, and many boats are available to visitors for a fun day at the lake. These lakes have developed into one of the most popular destinations for water sports enthusiasts and adventure tourists. But that's not all. The city council is working on a project, which should connect all these artificial and natural lakes over channel, so the city tourists can paddle into the green far out of the city. In Leipzig there were huge lignite deposits, which served as the main source of energy for factories and power stations in the region. Brown coal was supported for decades, in GDR times took the degradation on a large scale and without regard to consequences place. There were no laws to curb the environmental damage, caused by mining, the result of this way was that there was a strong air pollution. This was so extrem, that visitors do not want to stay in Leipzig. Shortly after 1989 was decided, that most of these mines must closes down (some are still in use, but are subject strict conditions). As part of a program for urban regeneration, the disused mines have been converted into beautiful lakes, for example the Cospudener lake, the Störmthaler lake, the Markkleeberger lake and so on. The inhabitants of Leipzig made great sacrifices for this regeneration: Nearly 90 percentof employees in the mining lost their jobs, which had the result, that many peoples went away from Leipzig. At the Cospudener lake rememberd an observation tower of the chimneys and cooling towers of the former mining operations. We think the project Cospudener lake is excellent example for the successful implementation of an eco-friendly and aesthetic plan to the revival of a mining landscape and to save the ecosystems.

Anna Gerdes, Sabrina Gangloff 9/3