Australian Lakes Generate Sulphuric Acid

The situation of the Murray-Darling river system has just turned critical, Australian scientists warn, in a new study. Years and years of poor management and toxic waste disposal in the area have prompted modifications in salinity, acidity, temperature and nutrient levels, in waters fueling the river system. In addition to this, water levels are currently dropping, exposing soil under lakes Alexandrina and Albert. These soils are very rich in iron sulphide, which leads to the formation of sulphuric acid.
 

Furthermore, in the past few months, sideronatrite – a mineral native to highly-acidic soils – has formed excessively across the system, as the grounds became extremely corrosive. This brings new reasons of concerns, as the mineral and the sulphuric acid, some 240,000 tonnes of it, could leak into nearby lakes, making them unable to sustain wildlife, including fish, algae, and microorganisms.
 

"Acid dissolves aluminum, arsenic, zinc and lead, which could contaminate water supplies," warns Rob Fitzpatrick, the leader of the team behind the new report, to be presented this week by the CSIRO Land and Water Research Institute in Adelaide. All these dangerous chemicals have the ability to leak in the soil, and they could eventually make their way to nearby lakes.
 

A solution to this problem would be to flush the lakes with marine sea waters, so as to increase their levels and cover the corrosive soils. But this solution won't help in the long-run, seeing how the factors that caused the problem in the first place will remain in place. For now, Australian authorities are trying more localized solutions, for lakes Alexandrina and Albert.
 

Environment experts are currently trying to spread alkaline lime around the shores, in an attempt to neutralize the effects of the acid. In addition, they are also promoting the growth of acid-resistant plants that could fix the chemical and prevent it from breaking up other dangerous compounds.