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Detailed Assessment
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6.2. Detailed Assessment
This chapter gives analysis of priority Hot Spots located in the Russian part of the Dnipro River basin. These Hot Spots were identified at the preliminary screening stage (Chapter 4), including consultations with experts involved in evaluation of Hot Spots in other categories. In order to assess the impact of Hot Spots on water quality and human health on the basis of the methodology proposed by the SLE&C experts, reasonable weightings were calculated for each subcategory in the section “Water Quality and Human Health” as well as the criteria in each subcategory.
The analysis and assessment of water quality was focused first of all on those aspects of the use of water resources, which can have impact on human health. According to the adopted methodology, preliminary screening of utility and industrial sources of pollution as per the list of suggested criteria will enable to identify the most important Hot Spots with relation to the discharge and consequently their potential impact on the environment, including transboundary pollution. As a result numerical criteria of water quality were developed mainly for identification of the most important discharges from Hot Spots, taking into consideration their potential impact on the environment and similarly to the approach, which was applied for the development of scoring criteria to assess the impact of Hot Spots on the environment and biodiversity. Assumptions as for the pollution load were considered based on the scoring criteria for pollution control.
6.2.1. Drinking Water Supply
6.2.1.1. Location of the Nearest Municipal Drinking Water Withdrawal
This criterion establishes the proximity to the nearest drinking water withdrawal downgradient of the Hot Spot. Municipal systems have been specified to distinguish from individual water takings. The criterion is based on the assumption that pollutant assimilation and drinking water supply are incompatible uses in close proximity.
For all 15 Hot Spots the nearest downgradient municipal drinking water withdrawals, either from surface water or ground water supplies, are located at the distance of more than 25 km downstream of the waste-water discharge. Therefore all 15 Hot Spots have been assigned a score of 0 under this criterion as shown in Annex C, Table C-1.
6.2.1.2. Municipal Drinking Water Withdrawals under the Direct Influence of River Quality
This criteria examines whether the nearest downgradient drinking water withdrawal is influenced by river quality recognizing that in numerous instances well water supplies (and not direct river withdrawals) are used as the source of municipal water supplies.
The nearest municipal drinking water supplies from ground water are located at a distance gteater than 25 km down gradient from the subject Hot Spots. As a result, all 15 Hot Spots have been assigned a score of 0 under this criterion (Annex C, Table C-2).
6.2.1.3. Population being Supplied by River Water within 25 km Downstream of Hot Spot
As stated under criterion 1.1 the nearest municipal drinking water withdrawals are located at a distance gteater than 25 km down gradient from the subject Hot Spots. As a result, all 15 Hot Spots have been assigned a score of 1 under criterion 1.3b according to the scoring methodology (Annex C, Table C-3).
6.2.2. Recreation
This criterion deals with the potential risks associated with swimming and other recreational activities in and on the river in proximity to the Hot Spot discharge. Where available, information on illnesses associated with the recreational areas and/or specifically attributed to the subject Hot Spot is brought into the analyses. Recreational fishing is addressed under a separate criterion. The downstream cut-off distance limit of 10 km adopted in the Methodology for Hot Spot Evaluation for this scoring criterion, versus the 25 km distance used in the drinking water supply criteria, was selected to partly account for the reduced weight to be applied for recreation relative to drinking water supply.
6.2.2.1. Recreational Bathing Areas Located near the Hot Spot
The presence of a recreational bathing (swimming) area in close proximity to a Hot Spot discharge is a potential source of concern of health and epidemiological authorities. Greater distance downstream assumes greater pollutant assimilative potential and hence reduced concern (and reduced score for the Hot Spot).
In the area of big towns Briansk, Smolensk, Kursk, as well as at the Vorsklitsa River, there are formally established or locally-recognized bathing areas located within 1 km downstream or immediately upstream of the Hot Spots. These Hot Spots have been assigned scores of 5 under this criterion (Annex C, Table C-4).
In the area of the other Hot Spots there are formally established or or locally-recognized bathing areas located within 3 km downstream the Hot Spots. These remaining Hot Spots have been assigned scores of 4 according to the scoring methodology (Annex C, Table C-4).
6.2.2.2. Other Aquatic Recreational Activities Located near the Hot Spot
Direct contact with water can take place in the process of rowing, sailing and other aquatic recreational activities. Poor aesthetics (eg., eutrophication, colour, odour) can also diminish enjoyment of these activities.
Aquatic recreational areas (rowing, sailing centres) are typically located at a distance of more than 10 km downstream of the Hot Spot waste-water discharges for all of the 15 Hot Spots. Accordingly scores of 1 have been assigned for each Hot Spot (Annex C, Table C-5).
6.2.2.3. Any Illnesses Attributed to the Recreational Areas
For this criterion (Annex C, Table C-6) 14 of the Hot Spots have been assigned a score of 0 as there is no documented evidence of illnesses associated with swimming or other aquatic recreational activities downstream of the subject Hot Spots.
Only for the Hot Spot “Agricultural complex in the basin of Vorsklitsa River” is there evidence of illnesses associated with swimming activity. The individuals recovered from these illnesseswithout medical intervention. A score of 2 has been assigned for this Hot (Annex C, Table C-6).
6.2.2.4. Hot Spot identified as source of illnesses
This criterion provides higher scores to Hot Spots which have been directly implicated with causing illness in people engaged in aquatic recreational activities. The criterion provides a zero score where information is lacking or where the Hot Spot is not characterized by bacteriological releases and hence cannot be identified as a source of illness.
The Hot Spot “Agricultural complex in the basin of Vorsklitsa River” is suspected as a source of illness as a result of swimming. A score of 5 has therefore been assigned to this Hot Spot Hot (Annex C, Table C-7). For the remaining 14 Hot Spots, since they are not associated with bacteriological contamination, a score of 0 has been assigned Hot (Annex C, Table C-7).
6.2.3. Recreational Fishing
The subcategory “Recreational fishing” evaluates fishing opportunities in concrete zone subject to the distance between this zone and the Hot Spot. Assessment of the general health of the fishery is given in the category “Environment, biodiversity and natural areas”.
Proximity of recreational fishing areas and sustainability
This scoring criterion addresses the potential impact on recreational fishing opportunities by using proximity of fishing areas to the Hot Spot discharge as a measure of potential impact. While it is recognized that recreational fishing is conducted throughout the watershed, the scoring system has been based on proximity of the Hot Spot to designated, licensed recreational fishing areas to help differentiate Hot Spots. The highest score is assigned to Hot Spots which have already been identified as having adversely impacted these recreational fishing areas. So as not to bias the scoring, the scoring criteria take into account the possibility that no recreational fishing is carried out anymore at some locations because river conditions are so degraded. In these cases it is assumed that further degradation is unacceptable and a high score is warranted.
For 14 Hot Spots designated areas of recreational fishing are located within 5 km downstream or 5 km upstream of the Hot Spot. Scores of 3 have been assigned (Annex C, Table C-8) as per the scoring methodology.
In relation to the Hot Spot “Agricultural complex in the basin of Vorsklitsa River” the area of recreational fishing is located within 25 km downstream in the river. As a result, a score of 2 has been assigned for this Hot Spot (Annex C, Table C-8).
6.2.4. Commercial Fishing
In the category “Commercial fishing” the scoring approach is similar to that used for the criterion “Recreational fishing”. Assessment of the general health of the fishery is given in the category “Environment, biodiversity and natural areas”.
Proximity of commercial fishing areas and sustainability
This criterion focuses on the potential impact on commercial fishing opportunities by using proximity of designated, licensed commercial fishing areas to the Hot Spot discharge. The closer the licensed commercial fishing areas are to the Hot Spot, the greater the overall risk to human consumers. The highest score is assigned to Hot Spots which have already been identified as having adversely impacted these commercial fishing areas. So as not to bias the scoring, the scoring criteria take into account the possibility that no commercial fishing is carried out anymore at some designated locations because river conditions are so degraded. In these cases it is assumed that further degradation is unacceptable and a high score is warranted.
There is no commercial fishery in those water bodies where 14 Hot Spots discharge their wastewater. A score of 0 has been assigned to these Hot Spots (Annex C, Table C-9).
In relation to the Hot Spot “Agricultural complex in the basin of Vorsklitsa River” the zone of commercial fishing is located within 5 km downstream and 5 km upstream the river flow. Therefore a score of 3 has been assigned for this Hot Spot (Annex C, Table C-9).
6.2.5. Sediment Quality
Sediment Contamination
For the purposes of this criterion, an area of sediment contamination is defined as an area where the sediment quality concentration for at least one parameter is over five times the respective sediment background concentration for that parameter. The scoring methodology assumes that there will likely not be enough data available to attribute sediment contamination to a specific Hot Spot discharge. However, where the Hot Spot is the confirmed source of the contamination, the highest score is assigned. A score of zero is assigned if the Hot Spot discharge does not contain significant quantities of the subject contaminant parameter on which the contamination was defined.
There is no information about considerable contamination of bottom sediment (exceeding 5 or more times the relevant background concentration) in relation to water bodies where the discharge from wastewater treatment facilities of 14 Hot Spots takes place. These Hot Spots therefore have been assigned scores of 0 for this criterion (Annex C, Table C-10).
As for the Hot Spot “Agricultural complex in the basin of Vorsklitsa River”, it is accepted that it is the potential source contributing to contamination of bottom sediments. This Hot Spot has been given a score of 1 under this criterion (Annex C, Table C-10) as per the evaluation methodology.
6.2.6. Agricultural Water Taking
Agricultural Water Taking in Proximity to Hot Spot
Agricultural water taking for crop irrigation and livestock watering are important uses of the river particularly in the lower reaches of the river. Proximity to a Hot Spot is used as a potential indicator of increased risk to livestock and crops. Scoring assigns higher risk to areas where this beneficial use is carried out more extensively. The degree of use is a relative scale which takes into consideration the following factors: presence of large pumping stations (investment); crop water consumption normals in conjunction with areas (hectares) under cultivation for specific crops, and; calculated water deficits by basin area and licensed water taking volumes.
For 14 Hot Spots there is no appreciable use of the water resources for agricultural purposes within 10 km downstream of the enterprises. A score of 0 has been assigned as per the scoring criteria (Annex C, Table C-11).
In the area of the Hot Spot “Agricultural complex in the basin of Vorsklitsa River” a “moderate” level of utilization of the water resource for agricultural purposes occurs within 10 km downstream of the Hot Spot. As a result a score of 3 has been assigned under this criterion for this Hot Spot (Annex C, Table C-11).
6.2.7. Transboundary Pollution
Proximity to National Boundaries
This criterion reflects one of the stated objectives of this UNIDO project to reduce transboundary transport of pollutants and loadings to the Black Sea. Hot Spots located in close proximity to national boundaries (or the Black Sea) warrant higher scores than those more distant as they will have a greater impact on their downstream “neighbours”.
Twelve (12) Hot Spots are located at the distance of more than 30 km upstream of thenational boundary. These have been awarded a score of 1 as per the scoring criterion (Annex C, Table C-12).
Two (2) Hot Spots (Inter-district engineering services, town of Novozybkov and Inter-district engineering services, town of Klintsy) are located within 30 km upstream of the national boundary with the Republic of Belarus. These have been assigned a score of 2 (Annex C, Table C-12).
The Hot Spot “Agricultural complex in the basin of Vorsklitsa River” is situated within 30 km upstream of the national boundary with the Republic of Ukraine. This Hot Spot has also been awarded a score of 2 as per the scoring criterion (Annex C, Table C-12).
