Geology, geography and global energy

Scientific and Technical Journal

Geo-ecological estimate of surface water quality in the Volga river delta

2013. №1, pp. 169-180

Shcherbakova Natalya S. - Post-graduate student, Astrakhan State University, 20a Tatishchev st., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414056, nsherbakova50@mail.ru

Loktionova Yelena G. - C.Sc. in Chemical, Assistant Professor, Astrakhan State University, 20a Tatishchev st., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414056, eleloktionova@yandex.ru

The paper presents information on water resources located in the Ikrjaninsky district of Astrakhan region. It adds that this district contains an important navigation channel through the Volga River delta, the sole outlet for large vessels into the Caspian Sea. At this stage, the critique relates, data is provided on the estimated influence of various sources of contamination – including chemical and biological – on the district’s surface water quality. At least three industrial sources – Krasnie Barrikade Joint Stock Company (JSC), the largest enterprise in the district, Industrial Komplex (EKO+) and Lukoil-Nijnevoljskneft (Lower Volga Petroleum) – are listed as major contributors to the contamination problem. Krasnie constructs drilling sections and house blocks (for mining operations), while EKO+ services oil bank terminals and conducts hazardous drilling roles. Subsequently, the commentary refocuses on the results of the hydro-chemical monitoring that was undertaken in the spring-summer period. The monitoring, applying standard methods and analyses, indicated that changes occurring in the hydro-chemical sphere generally reflect different indicators. These indicators, the study says, are of vast importance for characterizing the water quality. They reportedly assess the surface water’s oxidizability base within the environmental standards set forth for lowland rivers in the spring period. In summer, by contrast, the oxidizability level usually increases considerably. The commentary indicates that the oxidizability level of this class of water has a relatively high pH (hydrogen concentration); in other words, it is slightly alkaline. Additional qualitative reactions, undertaken with dithizone, indicated the presence of heavy metal salts in the tap water samples. The long-term goal of these researchers, the blueprint observes, is to help enhance the surface water quality in Ikrjaninsky district.

Key words: water,sources of pollution,industry,hydro-chemical indicators of water quality,heavy metals

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