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11. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The scope of work has been carried out within the framework of the UNDP-GEF Regional project “Preparation of Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Dnipro River Basin and Development of SAP Implementation Mechanisms”. It has provided an objective analysis of the current environmental situation in the Dnipro River basin in the territory of the Russian Federation. The main goal of the project has been to identify and assess the major sources of pollution introduced by polluting industries.
The work has included a description of the methodology applied for the identification of the most significant sources of pollution in the territory of the Dnipro River basin, referred to as “Hot Spots”; an assessment and prioritization of the most significant Hot Spots based on their impacts and characteristics; and recommendations for mitigation of the adverse impact of Hot Spots on the environmental condition of the Dnipro River basin and an expert assessment of the capital investments required for the implementation of the scheduled water protective measures as well as economic efficiency of these measures.
The assignment was carried out through the application of the methodology suggested by National Experts of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine jointly with the SLE&C team (Canada). The identification and ranking of the Hot Spots by their negative impact on environment was based on a method that uses the total effective mass of contaminants discharged to the water bodies with effluents. The calculation of the effective mass of contaminant is based on two parameters: mass of discharged pollutant and its relative toxicity, calculated relatively to the toxicity of ammonium sulphate.
The suggested method has allowed not only for the monitoring of water quality, but also its impact on biodiversity and human health, as well as an assessment of the self-purifying capacity of the water ecosystems and the dilution factor for toxic matters.
The assessment of the adverse environmental impact of the sources of pollution was carried out through the application of a scoring technique which proved to be highly efficient in obtaining the maximum objective assessment of the impact of the wastewater on the water bodies, biodiversity and human health in the territory of the river basin.
The applied methodology is notable for the fact that it offers a formal, systematic approach to addressing a wide range of biological objects, such as plants, birds, fish and aquatic invertebrates. All of them have different reactions to anthropogenic impact by virtue of their specific physiologic characteristics. Special consideration was given to rare or endangered species of plants and animals as well as the impact of polluting industries, not only on individual species of organisms, but on groups of species and entire natural complexes (natural reserves, national parks), since it is impossible to preserve species without habitat preservation.
At this stage of preliminary screening of the Hot Spots, the National Experts of the Russian Federation have identified 80 sources of pollution of water bodies in the Russian part of the Dnipro River basin, which are mainly industrial and utility enterprises. Based on the results of the preliminary screening exercise, the National Experts selected 15 Hot Spots, 14 of which had the highest value of total effective mass of discharged contaminants. Through detailed analysis, 5 sites were identified for the implementation of priority measures aimed at mitigation of their adverse impact on the environmental condition of water bodies, biodiversity and human health. The economic experts carried out the assessment of economic efficiency of priority investments required for the realization of water protective measures at these Hot Spots.
Table 11.1 : Resulting Ranking of 5 Priority Hot Spots on the Basis of Integrated Indicators and Expert Judgement
|
Rank |
Priority Hot Spot |
Worked-through relative weighting |
|
1 |
Smolensk Municipal Vodokanal |
1.572 |
|
2 |
Town of Briansk – State Unitary Enterprise |
1.541 |
|
3 |
Kursk Vodokanal |
1.454 |
|
4 |
Novozybkov - State Unitary Enterprise |
1.451 |
|
5 |
Agricultural Operators along the basin of Vorsklitsa River |
1.565 |
The group of experts believes that the above methodology can be recommended for introduction into the system of the State Environmental Monitoring, including the system of monitoring of water bodies in the Russian Federation. The methodology can be used in environmental audit procedures for industrial and utility enterprises in order to reveal and mitigate their adverse impact on the environment.
It should be noted that this methodology is applicable to the river basins, for which there is the necessary database of all the polluting industries, for example, the State Statistic Database 2TP (“Vodkhoz”) which is available in the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Moreover, in view of the preparation of the Strategic Action Programme, the suggested methodology should include additional recommendations, which would specify the gradual transition to the shutdown of pollution sources in the upper part of the basin, then in the middle part and in the lower part of the of the basin subject to investment opportunities.
Very importantly, the suggested methodology has provided more proof of the need using basin principles in the assessment and for the solution of problems of environmental enhancement of the territories, including the need to establish a common coordinating body for the three countries – the Basin Committee (Council) for the preparation of a joint strategic action plan taking into account the transboundary characteristics of the Dnipro River basin and its impact on the Black Sea.
In the territory of the Russian Federation, this methodology can be applied in the development of national action plans in the form of federal target programmes and the linking of these programmes with potential sources of financing.
An important aspect in the process of preparation, consideration and approval of this report has been the participation of representatives of non-government organizations as peer partners during all the stages of work.
In such a way this report presents a rather objective analysis of environmental situation in the Dnipro River basin in the territory of the Russian Federation with respect to the identification of the sources of pollution and the measures aimed at mitigation of their adverse impact on the environment.
Everything in combination gives the grounds to hope that the objectives of UNDP-GEF Regional project will be achieved.
