Conclusions

11.1. Conclusions

The main goal of the project was achieved in the process of the realization of the project, that is, to identify, assess and prioritize the Hot Spots, which are the major sources of pollution, human health risks and which have the most adverse impact on the environmental situation as well as to develop relevant mitigation measures.

The preliminary screening of the Hot Spots was carried out using the total effective mass of discharged contaminants.  This method is based on the mass of the discharge and the relative toxicity of the contaminant. The total effective mass of contaminants discharged to the Dnipro River basin was calculated for 199 industries of the Republic of Belarus using year 2000 statistical data.  The calculations showed that 143 enterprises discharged one tonnes per year and even more.  The analysis of the results achieved also showed that 48 enterprises cause 99 % of the effective mass of contaminants discharged to the Dnipro River basin within the territory of Belarus.

As a result of further assessment, 15 utility and industrial enterprises were identified, where the total annual mass of contaminants discharged (tonnes per year) exceeds 1% of total annual basin load and their total annual hydraulic load (million m³ per year) exceeds 1-2% of total annual discharge to the basin within the territory of Belarus (Table 11.1).

Table 11.1 : Preliminary List of Priority Hot Spots

A detailed assessment of the priority of the identified 15 Hot Spots was carried out by the methodology suggested by the SLE&C.  The methodology is remarkable as using fundamentally new approaches, which allow for the scoring of the potential negative impacts of the Hot Spots on water quality, biodiversity and human health, as well as the cost of the mitigation measures.  The evaluation was conducted for four categories: Water Quality and Human Health; Pollution Control; Environment and Biodiversity; and Economics. The ranking of the Hot Spots was based on determining the specific weights, expressed as scores for each category – the greater the weights, the higher the priority of the Hot Spot is and the greater its adverse impact on the environment and biodiversity (Table 11.2).

Table 11.2 : Ranking of Priority Hot Spots Located in the Dnipro River Basin within the Territory of the Republic of Belarus

The most negative impact on the environment and biodiversity is attributed to the discharges from the wastewater treatment facilities of the cities of Minsk, Gomel, Retchitsa, Mogilev and Mozyrsky petroleum refinery.

The results of the evaluation coincide with the results achieved following the assessments conducted by different methodologies.  This methodology offers the advantage of carrying out a quantitative assessment in scores as well as a sound prioritization of the Hot Spots. It allows not only for the assessment of chemical pollution in surface waters, but also the assessment of its impact on biological processes and human health.

The analysis of the results of the Hot Spots prioritization shows that in the territory of Belarus the weighted scores categories vary essentially.  Thus, the categories of “Water Quality and Human Health” and “Pollution Control” have approximately equal weights, while the category “Environment and Biodiversity” has twice the value with regard to the above mentioned categories and the category “Economy” has twice as little value.  The category “Environment and Biodiversity” has twice the priority as compared with categories “Water Quality and Human Health” and “Pollution Control” and four times a the priority than the category “Economy”.

The above developed and approved methodology can be recommended for wider application for the other major river basins in the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Attracting investments under the conditions of the transition period of the economic development of the state, which is characterized by the shortage of financial resources, necessitates prioritization of Hot Spots.

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