The environmental management system of the Neogene-Quaternary and Upper Devonian aquifers in the Lipetsk region

Abstract

Introduction: Groundwater pollution by nitrate ions is one of the leading issues in urban agglomerations. Within the territory of the Lipetsk region there are a large number of industrial and agricultural enterprises that serve not only this region, but also the neighbouring regions. The aim of this study is to build an environmental management system for groundwater in the Lipetsk region that is subject to nitrate pollution. Methodology: The Lipetsk region is located at the joint of the Central Russian Upland and the Oka-Don Lowland. According to the conditions of their occurrence, the operating aquifers of the Lipetsk region are divided into pore-stratal aquifers in the Neogene-Quaternary aquifer system and fissure-karst aquifers in the Upper Devonian aquifer system. In the course of the study, ecological and hydrogeochemical zoning of the territory of the Lipetsk region was carried out according the level of environmental well-being. It was based on the level of nitrate pollution of the groundwater in the Neogene-Quaternary and the Upper Devonian aquifers in the Lipetsk region. Three categories of zones were distinguished, with an acceptable, moderately dangerous, and dangerous level of environmental trouble. Based on this zoning, an environmental management system was designed to control nitrate pollution of groundwater in the Lipetsk region with financial support for environmental protection. The study is based on the information from the cadastre of groundwater wells in the Lipetsk region for 2017. Results and discussion: For both aquifers, the nitrate content is above the maximum permissible values, it ranges from 45 mg/dm3 to 135 mg/dm3. We can say that both of them are equally polluted due to the lack of regional aquiclude and the rapid development of technogenic activity near large urban areas. The total cost of the environmental protection measures amounted to about 7 billion 600 million roubles, of which 5.5 billion are to be allocated from the federal budget to the Lipetsk region, and 2.1 billion roubles will be provided by commercial organisations that cause nitrate pollution. Conclusions: Upon the expiry of a ten-year period for the implementation of the environmental management system program, we should evaluate the process of equipment modernization at enterprises and changes in the quantitative composition of nitrates in groundwater. If there is no positive tendency towards a decrease in the concentration of nitrates in the groundwater of the aquifers, it will be necessary to review the environmental management system.