The impact of economic activity on the qualitative composition
of surface water courses

Summary

Pollution of water bodies as a result of the economic activity is a serious environmental problem. On the basis of state reports on the environmental condition of the Samara Area in 2006–2012 an analysis of the qualitative composition of the water courses flowing in close proximity of potential pollution sources – cities, industrial enterprises, highways and railways – was carried out. Three rivers were chosen for studies: the Surgut, the Bol’shoi Kinel’ and the Bezenchuk. For the evaluation of the water quality the following parameters were used: specific composite water contamination index, sulfates, copper, manganese, BOD_full, COD, suspended solids and dissolved oxygen. The concentrations of pollutants in the Samara Area rivers exceed the maximum permissible levels: sulfates – sixfold, copper – ninefold, manganese-thirty one fold, BOD_full – 2.1-fold, COD – twofold. It is evidence of significant deterioration of the studied water bodies for the past decade. Since the research stations are located close to cities, industrial enterprises or highways the mentioned environmental problem results from the active economic anthropogenic activity. To detect illegal wastewater discharge sources the results of water body monitoring shall be regularly analyzed. It will help to identify the type of wastewater discharged into the water body; pollution source or industrial enterprise discharging the wastes illegally.
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Key words

water course , surface water body , water quality parameters , water objects pollution , specific composite water contamination index