Valkova S.A. Selected aspects of the current state of freshwater resources in the Murmansk Region, Russia. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A. 2017, V. 52, No 9, p. 921-929.

Downloaded by [Professor Vladimir Dauvalter] at 05:55 30 August 2017 922 N. A. KASHULIN ET AL. Each individual was analysed for weight and length according to Smith, and for the standard length, fatness and the degree of stomach filling.[9] The age was determined by scale. The status of fish organisms have been assessed by pathological and morphological analyses.[10,11] Results and discussion Key reasons for degradation o f surface waters Despite considerable fresh water resources in the Murmansk region, their rapid degradation can be observed based on a number of conditions (Fig. 1). Water management that is ultimately irrational should be mentioned. There are several users of water resources in the region, and their interests often conflict; further, natural water is subject to various local and regional authorities, leading to low management efficiency. The energy and mining industries are the main consumers of water resources in the Murmansk region. In addition to economic imperative governing the deci­ sion-making process, there are still old-fashioned, water-con­ suming technologies in use and general confidence in the low price and inexhaustibility of water resources. The hydroelectric power industry is driven to maximise profits and the efficiency of the generating capacity, but peculiarities of aquatic ecosys­ tems beyond the Arctic Circle are not taken into account. This can be shown by the example of the regulations for reservoirs management, which are outdated and require thorough review. The mining industry is the main source of environmental pol­ lution in the region because of the following: enormous amounts of concentrated ore, lack of integrated ore use, small share of final products, old-fashioned and water-consuming concentration technologies, pyro-metallurgic processes of metal extraction, enormous amounts of watered fine wastes, waste disposal directly into watersheds of lakes and watercourses of rivers, discharge of wastewater into bodies of water and air-borne industrial pollution of catchment areas. Furthermore, this list should be supplemented by inefficient water management, lack of water use strategy and inefficient control. There are no registers containing data on qualitative and quantitative indicators of water and its management; there is no legal framework for water management that would take into consideration the natural peculiarities of the region, and no efficient control systems. Consequently, there is a drastic deterioration in the quality of surface water and a related degra­ dation of bioresources. The situation in this region is somewhat paradoxical, with the cities possessing vast freshwater resources experiencing a severe shortage of good-quality drinking water.[1] Industrial fishery has almost stopped in the internal waters. Most of the reasons for the degradation of water resources in the Murmansk region are socio-economic. The following fac­ tors cause decreases in water resource potential: inadequate water management, lack of information, data and understand­ ing of ongoing processes in the bodies of water; old-fashioned technologies and engineering; inadequate intellectual, financial and/or technological resources. The main reasons for water misuse are as follows: lack of political decisions defining water as an important natural resource and striving at problem­ solving related to water management; lack of regulations and legislation considering regional environmental features; and unsatisfactory legal review in the field of environmental legisla­ tion and management. Inventory of regional water resources and assessment of their current state and use are necessary. The inefficiency of water managing organizations is worsened by unaccountability before the public and authorities. There is no mechanism for public hearings, and stakeholders do not participate in the decision-making process. There are also Figure 1. Factors and cause-and-effect relationships related to the decreased resource potential of surface waters in the Murmansk region.