Hydrochemical water quality monitoring of natural water bodies of the Ural river basin

A general characteristic of the river basin of the interstate Ural river and information on the economic use of the Ural river in its upper, middle and lower reaches are given. Information on the hydrology of the liquid and solid flow of the Ural river is presented. Hydrochemical monitoring of water bodies of the Ural river basin was conducted during the flood period, during the summer low water period and during the autumn low water period of 2017–2018. The hydrochemical monitoring of the water quality in natural reservoirs of the Ural drainage basin made it possible to identify an excess of the MPCs for residential use and for fishery of heavy metal ions in the water of the examined reservoirs. An excess of cadmium ions by (1.2–1.4) MPC for residential use was found in the Ilek river during its low water as well as in the Ural river near the border with the Russian Federation during the flood period in the amount of (3.1–3.4) MPC for residential use and near the village Zharsuat in the period of summer and autumn low water in the amount of (1.5–2.6) MAC for residential use. An excessive concentration of lead ions by (1.2–1.4) of MPC for fresh water fisheries in the middle and lower reaches of the Ural river at different times of the year was found. Excessive concentrations of ions of different heavy metals in comparison with their MPC for fresh water fisheries were found in all water bodies in different periods of the year. The greatest excess of zinc ions in comparison with its MPC for fresh water fisheries was observed during low water.

Baseline surface- and groundwater monitoring prior to an onshore shale gas operation in the Vale of Pickering, UK

A comprehensive programme of baseline groundwater hydrochemical monitoring has been carried out in connection with the proposed hydraulic fracturing of a 2 to 3 km deep Bowland Shale gas reservoir in borehole KM8 at Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, UK. The monitoring infrastructure encompassed: five on-site boreholes with hydraulically open intervals ranging from shallow weathered cover to a c. 200 m deep Corallian limestone aquifer, six off-site wells (hydraulically open in superficial materials and/or Kimmeridge Clay) and four surface water monitoring stations. Groundwater chemistry was high stratified with depth, ranging from slightly acidic, fresh, very hard Ca-HCO3-SO4 waters in shallow weathered cover, to brackish, calcium-depleted, highly alkaline waters in the Corallian aquifer. Dissolved methane was detected in most boreholes, with 10 µg/L being typical of shallow boreholes and around 50 mg/L in the Corallian. Low ethane concentrations and isotopic evidence suggest that the methane was predominantly microbial in origin (carboxylate fermentation at shallow depth, natural methanogenic CO2 reduction at greater depth). Elevated dissolved ethane (20-30 µg/L) was found in one well of intermediate depth, suggesting admixture of a possible thermogenic component, although this could be derived directly from the Kimmeridge Clay penetrated by the well.

Risk assessment mapping of diseases caused by excess heavy metals in river water

<p>A medico-ecological research method is proposed based on the coupled spatial analysis of zones of excessive pollution of river waters with heavy metals (HM) in the basin of the Nizhnekamskoe Reservoir (catchment area of 186 000 km<sup>2</sup>) and data on the health status of the local population.</p><p>For the spatial analysis of the heavy metal cycle in the river basin (on its surface, in soil, ground and river waters), a physically based ECOMAG-HM model with a daily time step resolution was developed. The model consists of two main blocks: a hydrological submodel of runoff formation and a hydrochemical submodel of migration and transformation of HM in the river basin [1]. The model was calibrated and verified on the basis of long-term hydrometeorological and hydrochemical observations data at 34 hydrochemical monitoring sites. Maps of simulated mean annual HM concentrations in river water were constructed and areas with significant levels of HM contamination (copper, zinc, manganese) were identified, including catchment areas not covered by hydrochemical monitoring.</p><p>The population in the study region has notably higher morbidity rate in priority class diseases (of digestive system, urogenital system, blood and hemopoietic organs, as well as disorders related to immunity mechanism) than the average level in Russia. Occurrence of these diseases is mostly determined by the state of the environment and, even more, by the quality of drinking water and consumed biological products (fish). To analyze the influence of the river water contaminated with heavy metals on the health of the population the statistical data on general morbidity in the region had been previously analyzed separately for two age group: adult population and children under 14. The most relevant research object is child morbidity. Children permanently live in the area without being directly exposed to hazardous work conditions and have relatively healthy lifestyle which excludes the influence of additional harmful factors (overeating, smoking, alcohol consumption) that increase the risk of many diseases development.</p><p>The coupled spatial analysis of the population morbidity and the river water contamination maps shows that zones with high and excessive population morbidity rates are located mainly within the highlighted areas with increased concentration of HM in the river water. However, it does not seem possible at this point to separate the effects of man-made impact of air, contaminated with toxic emissions, water and locally produced food on the health of the population. Therefore, to obtain more accurate results within the next stage it is planned to conduct spatial statistical analysis of morbidity risk in separate groups of diseases, mostly determined by health effect of heavy metal water contamination.</p><p>1. Motovilov Yu.G., Fashchevskaya T.B., 2019. Simulation of spatially-distributed copper pollution in a large river basin using the ECOMAG-HM model. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 64 (6), 739-756. DOI: 10.1080/02626667.2019.1596273</p><p> </p><p>This study was carried out under Governmental Assignment to the Water Problems Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (subject no. 0147-2019-0001)</p>

Seasonal dynamics of nitrogen-containing substances in the Black Sea coastal zone by example Gelendzhik and Golubaya bay

In the course of studies of hydrochemical monitoring data for the period from 2017 to 2019, we found that the Gelendzhik bay, which belongs to semi-closed water areas, has an increased background of mineral and organic nitrogen forms compared to the background in the Golubaya bay corresponding to the open coast. Increased concentrations of mineral forms of nitrogen in the Gelendzhik bay we detected, probably due to anthropogenic impact.

Geostatistical Analysis Methods for Estimation of Environmental Data Homogeneity

The methodology for assessing the spatial homogeneity of ecosystems with the possibility of subsequent zoning of territories in terms of the degree of disturbance of the environment is considered in the study. The degree of pollution of the water body was reconstructed on the basis of hydrochemical monitoring data and information on the level of the technogenic load in one year. As a result, the greatest environmental stress zones were isolated and correct zoning using geostatistical analysis techniques was proved. Mathematical algorithm computing system was implemented in an object-oriented programming C #. A software application has been obtained that allows quickly assessing the scale and spatial localization of pollution during the initial analysis of the environmental situation.