Geology, geography and global energy

Scientific and Technical Journal

The Volga river delta: an assessment of its surface water’s quality

2013. №1, pp. 211-221

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

Bystrova Inna V. - C.Sc. in Geology and Mineralogy, Associate Professor, Astrakhan State University, 20a Tatishchev st., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414056, innabystrova@aspu.ru

Karabaeva Altynganym Z. - C.Sc. In Geography, Assistant Professor, Astrakhan State University, 20a Tatishchev st., Astrakhan, Russian Federation, 414056, karabaeva2010@mail.ru

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

The article presents a summary of the surface water in Ikrjaninsky district, the southern part of Astrakhan region, near the Volga River delta. The district contains many branches and Volga sub-channels, such as the Bakhtemir, ’Crooked Bertyul’ and Hurdun. At this stage, the document shifted its focus to the sources of pollution in Ikrjaninsky district, using a schematic map of the study area to illustrate the relevant data. Particular attention was paid, the critique relates, to the challenges being created by the qualitative and quantitative depletion of the district’s water resources. In compiling its analytical report, the paper amassed data from different months in the ’quality cycle’ of the water (surface and drinking type) supply. It also listed the district’s main business enterprises, which have contributed to the water’s biological and chemical pollution. Subsequently, the review undertook a theoretical overview of the water situation, with the aim of providing indicators on its quality. For instance, these confirmed that the Ikrjaninsky water sources were ’moderately stiff’. This implies that their oxidizability was within the environmental parameters set forth for lowland rivers. Furthermore, the ascribed pH (hydrogen concentration) level indicated that the water sources were of the mildly alkaline type. Consequently, a qualitative reaction with dithizone would display that heavy metals were present in surface- as well as tap-water sources. This could potentially lead to serious deterioration in the status of water pipes. The blueprint confirmed, in conclusion, that additional researches (both theoretical and applied) would be required to resolve further questions related to the water quality in Ikrjaninsky region.

Key words: drainage network,pollution sources,water hardness,oxidation,pH,heavy metals,electrical conductivity

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