Estimating ecological damage caused by surface waters of atmospheric origin (based on housing subsystem)

Abstract

The article offers an algorithm to estimate ecological damage caused by surface waters of atmospheric origin that are formed within the housing subsystem of the urban landscape geosystem of the River Udy basin. Borders and areas of subsystems in terms of their functions and morphology of their position were established. The obtained results show that the area of the housing subsystem is considerable. Volumes of various types of wastewaters formed in the waterproof area of the housing subsystem have been calculated. The greatest volume is produced by thaw water. The source data for the research are the authors’ own field investigations. The chemical composition of approximately 20 water samples of the surface waters was studied. Suspended matter and solid residue were estimated by using the gravimetric method; pH, biological oxygen consumption, and oxidization – by using the acid and base titration method and indicators; polyphosphates, petrochemical products, surfactants (synthetic surface active agents) – by using the U-like oscillating tube and the extraction photometric method, heavy metals – with the help of the atomic absorption spectroscopy method.

The chemical analysis of the waters conditions revealed high content of suspended matter, presence of heavy metals and petrochemical products. All the above mentioned results of the study were used to estimate ecological damage caused by surface waters. Environmental charges for petrochemical products, suspended matter, biological oxygen consumption and chemical oxygen consumption were calculated. Cost estimates reveal unbalanced usage of the surface flow.