An Integrated Assessment of the Main Rivers Environmental State in Simferopol City

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to carry out an integrated assessment of the main rivers environmental state on the territory of Simferopol city on the basis of several complementary methods, and also to establish the main causes and sources of their pollution. Materials and methods. In the course of the work the following was carried out: survey of watercourses, their coastal zones; determination of chemical composition of water in fi eld and laboratory conditions; assessment of qualitative composition of river runoff based on comparison with MPC, calculation of water pollution index and complex indicator of environmental state. Results and discussion. For the majority of watercourses exceeding of maximum permissible concentrations was recorded for the following indicators: content of sulphates, nitrates, phosphates, iron, zinc, copper and lead. The environmental state of the surveyed watercourses was classifi ed as unstable according to the results of calculation of the integrated indicator of environmental state. The most unfavourable situation is in the following watercourses: Abdalka, Petrovskaya Balka, Mokry Log. Water quality at these water bodies is classifi ed as moderately polluted, and in the lower reaches of the Abdalka River as polluted. Conclusion. All rivers located in the city of Simferopol experience a high anthropogenic impact. Elimination of the identifi ed causes and sources of pollution of water bodies will contribute to the improvement of the urban aquatic ecosystem and the creation of a comfortable urban environment for recreation and residence of the population.