Assessment of the ecological state and quality of spring waters in West Kazakhstan, taking into account the risk to the population

Abstract

Drinking water is the most important factor that has a direct impact on human health. The population quite often uses spring water as drinking water. Groundwater, like surface one, is largely subject to anthropogenic impact, which negatively affects water quality. Substandard water can pose a health risk to consumers. In this connection, it is advisable to study and assess the quality of groundwater, since monitoring studies allow one to establish the fact and cause of changes in water quality, to take timely measures to eliminate the adverse pollution effects. The article presents the results of a study of the ecological state and quality of water in 40 springs of West Kazakhstan in terms of hydrochemical and toxicological indicators. In the water of most springs, the standards for pH, ammonium, turbidity, chloride ions, sulfate ions, magnesium, total hardness, permanganate oxidizability, dry residue and total mineralization, cadmium, iron, chromium, manganese, nickel, oil products, phenols are exceeded. The calculation of the magnitude of the non-carcinogenic risk to public health made it possible to establish that the majority of springs have an unacceptable level of organoleptic risk for the population. The water of the springs Taskala-3, No. 2 (near Krutoy), No. 1 (in Krutoy) is safe and can be used by local residents for cultural and domestic purposes.