ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Groundwater forming a large part of drinking water resources has been heavily threatened or polluted by industrial activities. One of the most efficient groundwater remediation methods is based on Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRB), which enable physical, chemical or biological cleaning. A PRB built near Pécs in Southern Hungary has provided a long-term reduction in the contamination in the groundwater polluted by uranium mining. Tailings facilities store billions of tons of mine waste and pose a serious threat to the environmental and human life. Their safety can be enhanced by improved water management, non-destructive testing, thickened tailings and paste technology and training and qualification of personnel. The protection of groundwater from pollution by landfills has been greatly enhanced by improvements of composite liners which are the key elements of landfill barriers.
