Environmental Assessment of Surface Water Body Quality (on the Example of the Psel River)

Abstract

Purpose. To analyze the qualitative malt of the surface water body to determine changes in its ecological status. Methods. Statistical and systematic analysis of ecological status changes was performed according to the interactive map "Monitoring and ecological assessment of water resources of Ukraine" of the river Psel for 2012 - 2020 on the following indicators: nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, ammonium ions, sulfates, chlorides. Results. It was found that in the Psel River in 2019 there was a decrease in the total phosphate content from point Nr 1 to point Nr 6. At the same time, there is a significant increase near Bishkin village. The reason may be the placement of a fence post in a settlement where there are no treatment facilities. There is an increase in nitrate concentration, while in the Kaminne village and Velyka Bagachka urban-type settlement there is a decrease in nitrate concentrations, which may be associated with their consumption of phytoplankton, which should lead to increased turbidity and biological oxygen demand. The increased concentration of nitrites indicates the intensity of decomposition of organic matter, and the delay of oxidation of NO2– to NO3–, which clearly indicates the pollution of the reservoir. Nitrates and nitrites enter the water from the effluents of industrial and agricultural enterprises. The decrease in the ammonium ions concentration (the Chervone village) is most likely due to their oxidation, dissolved in water by oxygen, with the formation of nitrate ions. There is an increase in chloride content. The increase in chloride concentration near the Byshkin village and the Kaminne village is due to the pollution of surface water bodies with domestic wastewater. There is an increase in the sulfates content. For the manufacture of fertilizers or chemicals in the technological process at the enterprise sulfuric acid is used. Therefore, it can be assumed that the discharges of untreated water by the enterprise can be the reason for the increase in the content of sulfates in the river water. Conclusions. An analysis of changes in the ecological status of the Psel River on the basis of data «Monitoring and environmental assessment of water resources of Ukraine» for 2012 – 2020 was performed. It is revealed that the river Psel is under rgular technogenic impact, has a tendency to steady deterioration of its ecological condition.