Preliminary assessment of water quality in the Rio Mannu di Narcao basin (Sardinia, Italy)

the quality of surface water and groundwater in the rio Mannu di narcao basin was investigated as a part of the characterization plan of the area, a preliminary study before undertaking a project to mitigate the impact of past mining. Dissolved Zn, cd and Pb contents allow to circumscribe the risk source to a restricted area and to identify the origin of this contamination in the water flowing from an adit. on the contrary, as contamination originates by the interaction of stream water with as-rich fine materials originally deposited along the banks and now eroded and transported into the river bed.