The peculiarities of using water resources at the Volyn region and their ecological state in the modern conditions

Abstract

Formulation of the problem. Water is one of the most important resources in the world. The Volyn region has significant reserves of surface and underground water, but irrational use of water resources leads to their depletion. Furthermore, today the anthropogenic loading on natural ecosystems is increasing, this factor leads to the deterioration of the ecological state of water resources. So that, research the peculiarities of the water using and ecological state of water bodies and underground aquifers is necessary for conservation and restoration water resources of the region.

Review of previous publications and studies. The problem of water use in the Volyn region was being studied by many scientists. The information base of this article includes number scientific works, published by K. I. Herenchuk, F. V. Zuzuk, L. V. Ilin, Ya. O. Molchak, R. V. Migas, M. R. Zabokrytska, V. K. Khil-chevskyi, V. O. Fesiuk, S. V. Polianskyi, T. S. Pavlovska, O. V. Ilina, M. A. Khvesyk, I. V. Sanina, H. H. Liutyi, L. I. Shevchuk and others. Moreover, statistical information about water use and state of water resources was given in the ecological passports, yearbooks of the Volyn region and Ukraine. Also, systematic observations of aquatic ecosystems are carried out by Regional water resources office in the Volyn region.

Methods. The methodological base of the study is theoretical foundations of the doctrine of nature management. The authors applied mathematical-statistical, graphic and cartographic methods. Besides, methods of induction, deduction, comparative analysis and synthesis were used during the research.

Results. The article is devoted to the study of water resources in the Volyn region, peculiarities of their use by the population and economy. The authors pay attention to the all sources of water in the Volyn region and characterize their distribution. It is mentioned that the most important source of water is aquifers.

The authors give information about the structure of water use by type of economic activity. It is clarified that the largest consumers of water are agricultural enterprises and communal services. Agriculture consumes water resources for irrigation and other purposes, however, much water in this branch of economy is used irrationally. Also, large amount of extracted water is exploited for water supply of settlements in the Volyn region. But, only 5,5 % of the used water is consumed by industry, in particular, by food and sugar branch. Besides, the peculiarities of water usage in the administrative districts of the Volyn region are analyzed. The authors investigated that the biggest consumers of water are population and economy of Lutsk, Gorokhiv, Ivanychi and Volodymyr-Volynskiy districts, the least water usage is inherent for Shatsk, Lyubeshiv and Lokachinsky districts. Moreover, it is mentioned, that the features of water usage in the Volyn region change in time. For example, the amount of water consumption during 2000-2014 was decreasing as a result of social-economic causes.

The article considers the problem of the influence of different sources of pollution on the water resources in the Volyn region. It is noted, that the most vulnerable to the anthropogenic loading are surface water bodies, they are polluted generally by untreated sewage. For example, river waters consist many pollutants, concentration of which exceeds the maximum permissible concentration.

Scientific novelty and practical significance. The structure and dynamics of water consumption in the Volyn region is characterized for the first time. Particular attention is paid to the research of modern ecological state of surface and underground water resources in connection with water use and other economic activities. The results of this exploring will help to optimize water use and to conserve water resources.