QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL WATERS IN TERRITORIES IMPACTED BY THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Abstract

Background. The study area is one of the main regions of the Russian Federation, where intensive development and production of hydrocarbons are carried out. They are directly accompanied by a very significant anthropogenic impact on the environment in general, and on water bodies in particular. The article, based on the analysis of chemicals concentration in surface waters, bottom sediments and coastland soil, gives an assessment of water bodies quality on the territory of the oil and gas industry. Purpose. The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of surface waters, benthic ecosystem and coastland soil of water bodies on the territory of oil and gas fields of the Middle Ob region. Materials and methods. On the basis of chemical analysis, concentrations of chemical elements were determined in samples of surface waters, bottom sediments and coastland soil of water bodies. Based on the concentration of chemical elements in a particular environment, the index of surface water pollution was determined by the calculation method, the state of the coastland soil and the benthic ecosystem was assessed. Results. The calculation of the integral assessment of water quality shows that the studied water bodies range from moderately polluted to extremely polluted. Quality deterioration of the benthic ecosystem is observed in most of the studied water bodies. Conclusion. The study of the environmental condition of water bodies by the quality of surface waters, bottom sediments and the coastland soil shows the negative anthropogenic impact of the oil and gas industry on the studied water bodies.