Hydrochemical Regime of the River Chernaya (Crimea): Environmental Aspects

Abstract

The hydrochemical parameters' characteristics of the river Chernaya and some its tributaries are represented based on the results of the observations in 2006-2010. The changes both of water hardness and the level of its contamination with the mineral nitrogen compounds (nitrates, nitrites and ammonium ions) are shown. The results of the investigations testify to rather noticeable anthropogenic effect (increasing at low norm of water content) upon the water chemical composition. The retrospective analysis shows that in the extreme cases mineralization, hardness, calcium and nutrient content levels in the river waters significantly exceed the hygiene and sanitary standards for drinking water. The river Chernaya waters (before the water supplying point) are constantly contaminated with the nutrients and organic matter brought by the tribute Baidarka and the slope drainage waters. Consistency of quality of the flood and low runoff waters inflowing the river Chernaya to the normative standards is assessed. Though water hardness exceeds the standards only in the extreme cases, the present trend towards growth of the river Chernaya water mineralization and contamination with organic matter and nutrients requires systemic solving of environmental problems.