Regional Specifics of Water Use in the Republic of Belarus

Abstract

Water management statistics of the state water cadaster of the Republic of Belarus was used to analyze the dynamics of water use over 2000–2019. The study is based on the statistical methods for the analysis of time series and the relative characteristics of water use dynamics. Trends and priorities were revealed in water use in the country as a whole and at the level of administrative regions. It is shown that in 2000–2019, water intake in the country decreased by 28%, and the use of water for drinking and industrial needs dropped by more than 30%. Comparative analysis revealed differences in water use between regions expressed in the relative characteristics: total water intake, the volume of groundwater development and surface water extraction, the amounts of water use for different purposes. In the majority of administrative regions of the country (102 out of 118), the main source of water supply is groundwater, the development of which exceeds the extraction of surface water, and in 36 regions, water supply relies completely on groundwater. The administrative regions are grouped by the priority objectives of water use. It is found that two water use objectives are of priority in 78 regions; these are household and agricultural needs, met by groundwater. The differentiation of the volumes of water withdrawal and water use priorities at the regional level is determined by population size, the development level of material production branches, and their water demand.