Smilii P. Ecological and geographical assessment of surface waters of Zhytomyr region

The dissertation reveals the theoretical and methodological aspects of ecological and geographical research of anthropogenic nature of surface water in the Zhytomyr region. The existing approaches to the assessment of the ecological status of surface waters are analyzed. Ecological, sanitary-hygienic and industrial classifications and standards of surface water quality assessment are characterized, water and environmental policy of the European Union. The corresponding algorithm of ecological and geographical research of return waters of the rivers of the Zhytomyr region under the influence of anthropogenic activity is developed, constructed and analyzed. An assessment of physical and geographical conditions that affect the formation of surface water quality of Zhytomyr region and are factors of rational water use. The analysis of geological-geomorphological conditions, hydrological, soil-climatic conditions of surface water formation is carried out. The method of research of ecological assessment of water quality is described. To study the quality of surface waters, 53 points of hydro-ecological and sanitary-hygienic observations were selected on 13 rivers belonging to the basins of the Pripyat and Dnieper within the Zhytomyr region, grouped in the order of their location downstream. During the study of the problems of ecological-geographical assessment of surface waters of Zhytomyr region the following methods were used: historical, cartographic, comparative-geographical, statistical. Ecological and geographical assessment of sanitary and hygienic water quality of the main river basins of Zhytomyr region was performed, which included: assessment of water quality by indicators of salt composition, assessment of water quality by indicators of specific substances of toxic action; sanitary and hygienic assessment of water quality and economic assessment of water quality. The results are presented in the form of a combined environmental assessment, which is based on the final conclusions of the three blocks and is to determine the integrated environmental index. In general, it was found that in the basins of Pripyat and Dnieper within the Zhytomyr region, the quality of surface waters corresponds to the II quality class, which characterizes their waters as «good», «clean» and «satisfactory», «polluted». The directions of greening of surface waters of the rivers of the Zhytomyr region in the conditions of intensive anthropogenic loading are defined; measures on land and forest use within river basins are substantiated; the optimization aspects of domestic sewage treatment are determined; pollution of surface waters of Zhytomyr region with organic, biogenic and dangerous substances is investigated; priority measures have been identified that will help improve the situation of water resources in the Zhytomyr region and provide ways to improve recreational and nature reserves.