Tackling the problem of bacterial pollution of water bodies in St. Petersburg

Summary

The integrated waterway system «Lake Ladoga – the Neva River – the Gulf of Finland» has been the main water source, effluent receiving water body and the main recreation zone of St. Petersburg. SUE «Vodokanal of St. Petersburg» alongside with reducing nutrient load on the Baltic Sea has been tackling the problems of bacterial pollution of the Waterway system with the purpose of expanding the water use and recreation zones within the frames of Russia meeting the international commitments arising from the Helsinki Convention. Therefore the issues of sanitary and epidemiologic safety of the water bodies have been the most important for St. Petersburg. Beginning from 2011 Vodokanal has been carrying out annual control of the water quality in the Neva River from the headstream to the estuary. The purpose of this control is monitoring microbiological and chemical parameters as well as detecting the main pollution sources. The causes of bacterial pollution of the water bodies of St. Petersburg are considered. Implementing the programs of SUE «Vodokanal of St. Petersburg» by 2022 will provide for the complete elimination of discharging raw wastewater from the direct outfalls into the Neva River and in future stop discharging nondisinfected effluents of the wastewater treatment facilities into the Neva River, Neva Bay and eastern part of the Gulf of Finland.

Key words

disinfection , wastewater , viruses , water object , bacterial pollution , microbiological quality parameters