ENGINEERING OF WATER PROTECTION ZONES AS A PRIMARY MEASURE TO CONSERVE WATER BODIES

The shortage of clean water is one of the biggest threats facing our society today. In order to improve the deteriorating modern state of the river ecological systems of Ukraine, it is necessary to start with the professional organization of water protection zones and coastal protection strips. The protection and preservation of coastal areas directly affects the improvement of the state of the water area, because the reservoir with its coastal zone constitutes an interconnected river ecological system. All protection, revitalization, and engineering measures to improve the condition of the reservoir and the coastal area have the expected result in the case of covering the entire river basin. Engineering measures for arranging water protection zones are considered. The importance of the professional organization of water protection zones of coastal areas for the protection and revitalization of river ecological systems is indicated. Emphasis is placed on phytoremediation measures as the optimal solution for the restoration of natural complexes. Having professionally selected the composition and size of plant communities, it is possible to reduce the impact of adjacent territories on the river, retain a significant share of wastewater, slowing down its speed by almost 10 times, prevent soil erosion, siltation of the stream, increase the water content of the river, etc. Taking into account the specific needs of each river, available plots of land and features of the territory, phytomelioration works are carried out in a wide range: from shore fortification with individual trees or shrubs, the creation of forest strips, to planting and planting trees on large areas. Phytomeliorative works should be aimed at restoring the optimal ratio of natural and anthropogenically altered landscapes. To preserve water resources, it is necessary, first of all, to strengthen the regime of water protection zones. In the coastal areas, forest plantations and meadows, wetlands and arable land should be optimally combined. Streamlining of rivers with the use of modern methods of management, protection and restoration of their water resources allows creating favorable conditions for the formation of an ecologically safe state of the river and its basin.