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Characteristics and Quality of Ground Water and Surface Characteristics and Quality of Ground Water and Surface waters in the lower and middle basin of Selenga River

Source:  Water quality and traditions in lake areas: The 6-th Living Lakes Conference Ulan-Ude, Lake Baikal, Russia July 30-th – August 3-rd, 2001. – Ulan-Ude, 2001. – P.34-36.

The chemical composition of ground water is in general determined by following factors: supply and velocity, lithographical environment of the aquifer, its capacity, porosity, transmission, climate and relief. Hence, three ground water regions with different chemical milieus can be seperated within the middle and lower basin of Selenga River:
- The drainage basin of the Chamar-Daban, Ulan-Burgacy and Tsagan-Daban mountain range
- the ground water basin of the Ust-Selenginsk depression (baikaltype)
- the ground water basin of the Zabaikalski depression around Gusinooserck, Ivolginski, and Tugnuicki, (zabaikalski type)
Typical for ground water in cristalline rock evironment as in area A) is ground,water of the  ydrocarbonate,magnesium-calcite type with an overall low mineral content (totally up to 0,1-0,3 g/1). An exception is the high flour content (up to 2-6 mg/1) and a nautral high iron content in the Chamar-Daban range. In areas with mesozooic sedimentary and vulcanic aquifers, a slightly higher mineralisation (up to 0,9 g/1) occurs and the ground water is classisifed as sulfate-hydrocarbonate class. Ground water in the Ust-Selenginsk depression, next to Lake Baikal, belongs mainly to the hydrocarbonate, magnesium-calcite type with an average mineralisation of 0,1-0,3 g/1 (max. 0,7 mg/1) and an enhanced natural iron and manganese concentration (up to 3,2 mg/1). Additionally however, occurs a high mercury concentration with up to 0,04 mg/1. : The origin for it remains still unclear, since the surrounding Soil does not show an enhanced mercury content. A contamination by industries like the Selenginsk Pulp&Paper Mill, Timluicki iron concrete plant and the Transsibirian Railway can not be excluded and should be investigated throroughly.
Ground water in the Zabaikalski region belongs to the hydrocarbonate, magnesium-calcite type with a mineralisation of 0,2-0,5 g/1. While a natural high content of iron (8,5 mg/1), manganese (9 mg/1) and flour (3,5 mg/l)occurs, anthropogenic contamination containing nitrogen compounds (NH4, NO2> NO3) can be found.Additionally, a contamination with hydrocarbons up to 100 times of the MPC can be found. Near the oil product storage of the Ulan-Ude. In the region of Gusinooszersk-, Orongoicki- and Ivolginski region the ground water along tectonic faults is slightly uran-bearing. However, again a high concentration of mercury can be found and pestizides, the disposal of ash and sludge, as well as enhanced mercury content in the surrounding soil might be possible pollution sources. The surface waters too, can be classified as hydrocarbonate,magnesium-calcite type with low mineralisation and naturally enhanced iron and manganese content. Contamination with nitrogen compounds due to agriculture occurs in the in the rivers Uda, Suchara, Tugnui and Selenga.Furthermore in Slenga river contamination with hydrocarbons occurs. Lake Gusinoosersk shows a higher mineralisation as Lake Baikal and
especially a higher flour content (up to 1,65 mg/1). Due to the impact of the coal-burning power plant on the shore of Lake Gusinoosersk, the oxygen content is quite low (5mg/l O2) and enhanced nitrite concentrations can be measured (0,132 mg/1 vs. 0,002mg/l background).
This study shows that ground water and surface water within the middle and lower Selenga river basin is characterised by an overall low mineralisation and naturally enhanced iron, manganese and flour content. Near industrial sites, anthropogenic contamination with few pollutants occured already, raising concerns about ground water protection and the necessarity of a more thorough ground water monitoring.

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