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Prepared for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,
International Relations
Stockholm 1997-09-10
Preface
1. Background
2. Objectives of the pilot study
3. Short Geographic Description
Annual precipitation and water flow
Users
Major towns and settlements
Point sources
Treatment facilities
Soil composition and land use
4. Description of the present structure and plans for the future
monitoring in Zapadnaya Dvina
Responsibilities in water management
Present monitoring programme in Z. Dvina
Plans for future
5. Description of main environmental problems
Water quality
6. Analysis of the strength and weakness of present and planned
monitoring system
Present Monitoring Programme
Planned Monitoring Programme
7. Proposals on future Swedish - Belarussian co-operation
projects
Quality of Monitoring Performance
Automatic Monitoring Station
Modern Expert and Information System for Oil Spill.
Capacity of Municipal Treatment Plants
Pilot River Basin Management System
Framework Directive for Water Resources
8. Develop links with other countries draining to Zapadnaya
Dvina
Russia and Latvia
Latvia
Lielupe River Project
The Lake Peipsi Project
United Nations Environment Programme/Global Resource Information Database
(UNEP/GRID)-Arendal
9. References
The Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) has on the behalf of The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) performed a Pilot Study of the Environmental Monitoring in Zapadnaya Dvina drainage basin in Belarus. Bo Libert has been the contact person at SEPA and Chezlaw Romanovsky at the Belarussian Scientific Research Centre Ecology in Belarus. A fact finding tour was conducted by IVL in late July 1997 in Belarus.
Zapadnaya Dvina (hereby called Z. Dvina) runs through three countries; Russia, Belarus and Latvia before entering the Baltic Sea. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, little or no co-operation has developed regarding to information exchange and management within the river basin.
From experience we know that a well functioning monitoring system for water quality control is a prerequisite for a comprehensive, cost-effective and sustainable utilisation of the water resource. Since water and pollutants follow rivers that form river basins, the natural area for such a monitoring system to work in is the river basin.
Hitherto, there has not existed any well integrated monitoring system for water quality control of the whole Z. Dvina river basin, and the monitoring that has been done so far has been fragmentary and carried out with little concern for the borders set by nature. Moreover, the water quality work has been largely uncoordinated over the Russia/Belarus/Latvia border, as well as in between different institutions connected to environmental work in the three countries.
It is the mandate of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to support environmental authorities with technical assistance. With this knowledge the Belarussian environmental authorities has requested support from SEPA for the development of environmental monitoring in the Z. Dvina water basin. As a result from this request, a meeting, supported by the SEPA, between experts of the three states of the water basin to discuss future co-operation is planned to take place in Novopolotsk in autumn 1997. As such, the pilot study concerning the environmental monitoring in Z. Dvina in Belarus is aimed as a pre-investigation for a comprehensive approach to a water quality monitoring system for the river basin.
In general, the purpose is to establish a well functioning monitoring system for water quality control in the whole Z. Dvina basin. Such a monitoring system should be able to describe the water quality, to explain the reason for the present water quality and define goals for future water quality. As a matter of fact, the monitoring system will provide the baseline for implementation of proper measures to decrease the pollution load from specific point and non-point sources. Moreover, the results obtained from the monitoring system will provide a information feedback from remedial measures taken, and the need for complementary actions.
SEPA has initiated the terms of reference for this pilot study concerning the monitoring in Z. Dvina in Belarus. According to the terms of reference the pilot study aims to achieve following objectives:
The river basin of Z. Dvina is a 100 -150 km wide, curved strip with the wider extension opening to the Baltic Sea (Map 1). It borders with catchments of river Gauja in the north-west, lake Chudskoye and Ilmen in the north, river Volga and Dniper in the east, river Neman in the south and south-east, and river Lielupe in the west. The drainage boundary is limited by the Sventyan ridges, eastern declivities of the Belarus ridge and the Valday, Gorodok and Latgale highlands. River mouth is discharging into Gulf of Riga.
The territory of the basin is 87,900 km2 and the main part is divided between three countries; Belarus (38%, 33 200 km2), Russia (32%) and Latvia (28%). The remaining part (2%) is split between Lithuania and Estonia. The basin includes 12 000 rivers of different length and hydrology. The major tributaries is shown in table 1 and in Map 1. The total length of the main river is around 1 020 km, of what 328 km is situated in Belarus. The width of the main riverbed is 12-300 m, and the banks are 10-40 m high. General downfall of the river in Belarus is 38 m. There are 360 lakes with a surface area > 1 km2 within Belarussian part of the river basin.
Table 1. Major tributaries to Z. Dvina
River Mouth in Catchment, Length, km km2 Toropa Russia 1950 174 Mesza Russia 9080 259 Kasplya Belarus 5410 136 Luchosa Belarus 3510 90 Oulla Belarus 4090 123 Obol Belarus 2690 148 Oushacha Belarus 1150 118 Disna Belarus 8180 178 Drissa Belarus 6420 183 Druika Latvia 1050 52 Aiviekste Latvia 9160 114
The major source of precipitation are damp air masses from the sea side, therefore annual precipitation rates fall from the west to the east from 900 mm at the coast to 650 mm in Belarus. Main rainfall occur in April to October (75%).
Z. Dvina is 326 km long when it crosses the border between Russia and Belarus. The annual flow measured in Velisz (close to the border between Russia and Belarus) is 147 m3/s and at the border with Latvia - 468 m3/s, which gives an annual water transport generated within Belarus of 321 m3/s. Z. Dvina contributes with 5% of the total water inflow to the Baltic Sea.
Z. Dvina and its major tributaries are basically used for transport, fishery; hydro- and heat-power engineering; water supply for population and industries; irrigation for agricultural land farming. The river is also used for recreation.
Major towns directly located on the river bank are Sourasz, Vitebsk, Polotsk and Novopolotsk, Disna, Verkhnedvinsk and Druya (Map 2). Other larger towns and settlements within the Belarussian part of the river basin are Beshenkovitchy, Braslav, Gloubokoye, Gorodok, Lepel, Liozno, Miory, Postavy, Rossony, Senno, Oushachy, Chashniky, Sharkovshchina, Shoumilino.
A majority of the industrial sewage systems are connected to municipal treatment plants. There are approximately 45 industrial and municipal point sources within the Belarussian part of Z. Dvina river basin. The main activity of the industry are food processing, oil related processing and mechanical production.
Above that, there are also 31 larger animal (pigs and cows) breeding farms within the river basin. These farms have together a capacity of 445.000 pigs and 82.700 cows. All of them have some kind of sewage treatment facilities. There are also two large poultry factories.
With the decline of industrial production, the pollution load of water bodies has dropped significantly in recent years. Due to a decline in agricultural production pressure from agricultural activities has also decreased in recent years.
Map 2. Major settlements and point sources in Z. Dvina River basin in Belarus
There are almost no industrial pre-treatment facilities, and industrial waste water is mostly discharged with municipal waste water into the same sewers. Existing treatment facilities are to a very large extent overloaded.
The major soil types are sandy, loamy, sub-sandy, and in some places peaty.
The Ministry for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (MINNAT) has the main responsibility for water management in Belarus. It prepares legalisation, standards and measures, issues permits and carries out water monitoring. Other institutions with important responsibilities include: The Ministry of Health (standards, monitoring); The Ministry of Public Utilities (water supply, sewerage system, waste water treatment plants); The Ministry of Agriculture (water supply); and The Committee on Hydrometeorology (surface water monitoring).
Local authorities are responsible for physical planning, including water recourse management and water infrastructure development. The main state enterprise responsible for water supply and waste water treatment plants is called Vodocanal.
Monitoring of hydrosphere in Z. Dvina include the monitoring of surface waters
and subsurface waters. Following organisations have the main responsibilities
for surface and groundwater monitoring:
Monitoring surface water: State Department for Hydrometeorology
Monitoring programme: Belarussian Scientific Research Centre Ecology
(co-ordinate programmes from 18 different ministries)
Analysis: Vodocanal, State Department for Hydrometeorology, Belarussian
Scientific Research Centre Ecology, several enterprise laboratories
Quality control: Intercalibration: State Standardisation in Vitbske
Data bases: State Department for Hydrometeorology (surface water),
Ministry of Geology (groundwater)
Evaluation (dissemination): Belarussian Scientific Research Centre
Ecology
It is important to mention that water management in Belarus is in general not based on river basin approach.
The water monitoring programme in Z. Dvina consist of observation points of three levels (ranks): background, regional and local. Background and regional monitoring observation points are used for water quality monitoring and local points are used for impact monitoring.
Background level observation points are located at places free from local sources of pollution and designed to monitor the condition of surface waters in natural mode in situation of global transferred pollutants.
Regional level observation points are located in specific water reservoirs and waterways polluted by industrial and municipal discharge and intensive agricultural activities.
Local level observation points are situated in sites where local authorities have focused special attention to; e.g. water reservoirs, highly polluted rivers, valuable ecological resources etc.
In Belarus the regime of Z. Dvina has been investigated at 3 stations since 1878. Today there are 16 regional stations within the basin (Map 3).
Map 3. Regional surface water monitoring stations in Z. Dvina in Belarus.
The location of monitoring stations are determined by hydrometeorological and morphological features of the object, location of pollution sources, discharged quantity, composition and properties of discharged waters, orientation of users, etc. Some stations are located on waterways without specific pollution discharges; in the mouth of tributaries, in clean sections of waterways, in outflows and at border crossings. In places of discharges two or more stations are placed: upstream and downstream the point (or a group of points). The quality of a sample taken upstream the pollution source characterise the background (for a given river section) indication of the water quality. The difference between upstream and downstream sampling indicate the type and degree of surface waters pollution for each point source.
There are also monitoring stations located at a longer distance from pollution sources, in places with sufficiently full intermixing (at least 80%) of the discharge and natural water. These stations are used for evaluation of general water quality to the river section. In view of the fact that locations of intermixing of river waters and discharge migrate along the river bed, stations, as a rule, are located in places of reliable mixing of waters (throughout the year).
On rivers where the location of reliable mixing is far from the source of pollution with increased risk of full transformation of the pollutants, downstream stations are placed within the limits of the nearest outlet.
In case of multiple sources of pollution one station is installed before the first source and another one is installed downstream to the last source. With consideration of consumer interests additional station(s) might be placed between the first and last sources. This will indicate the influence of the different sources.
Water reservoirs are observed and controlled either generally or in specific polluted locations. In cases of specific control, stations are installed with consideration of water exchange in a given reservoir.
A priority parameter list for the surface monitoring containing is presented below (table 2). The table show compulsory parameters and ingredients that characterise the natural condition of the hydrosphere, presence of pollutants with global distribution, and integrated indicators of the general level of pollution.
In each specific case (this is specially true for the regional network of observations) the program is supplemented with particular pollutants of potential hazard for a given object of the hydrosphere (table 2). Hydrological parameters (water flow, speed, water level) are other supplementary important recorded information.
Table 2. Parameters used in surface water monitoring
Priority list: Priority list: Supplementary list
Hydrochemical Hydrobiological
- dissolved oxygen determination of surface - alkylonitrile, -
(COD5) waters and allylchloride
- suspended particles bottom sediments quality by - aluminium, - aniline
- pH - zoobenthos and periphyton - acetone, -
(waterways) acetonitrile
- oxidising-reducing - phytoplankton and - barium, -
potential zooplankton benzopyrine
- the sum of (reservoirs) - benzene,- beryllium
chlorides - butylacrylate,-
sulphates butylacetate
hydrocarbons - vanadium, -
calcium vinylacetate
magnesium - vinylchloride, -
sodium dioxin
potassium - dichlormethane,
-dichlorethane
- caprolactam, -
carbamide
- xanthogenates, -
acetic acid
- lignosulfonate, -
magnesium
- ammonia - methanol, -
- nitrite methylmercaptan
- nitrate - methylmetacrylate, -
arsenic
- naphthalene, -
pesticides
- phosphates, iron - rodenides, -
hydrogen sulphide
- silica - carbon disulphide, -
styrene
- oil products - antimony,-
- heavy metals tetraethyllead
- phenols - toluene,-
trichlorethan
- trilene,- carbon
tetrachloride
- formaldehyde,-
fluorine
- furfural,- chromium
- cyanide,-
cyclohexanol
- cyclohexanone,-
ethyacetate
- ethylene glycol and
others
The determination of a specific list of pollutants for a given observation station is done on the basis of information on the water quality together with discharge from industrial enterprises, communal drain and surface flow from agricultural farms. Results of preliminary check-up of the controlled water reservoir or waterway are also taken into account.
The periodicity of samplings in stationary monitoring network depends on the category of the observation station. Periodicity is divided in several categories, with the highest frequency in the first category. In Z. Dvina there are mainly stations in third and fourth categories. At stations of the third category samples are taken on a monthly basis, and for category 4 - 7 times a year during basic phases of hydrological changes in waterways and 4 times a year in water reservoirs.
At all stations the following observations are carried out:
1. water level
2. water flow
3. water temperature
4. ice thickness and snow thickness on the ice
5. ice situation
Hydrochemical observations are conducted on Z. Dvina (Sourasz, Vitebsk, Polotsk), Obol (Obol), Polota (Yankovo), Disna (Sharkovshchina) with control of the following parameters:
At lake observation stations the following parameters are controlled:
1. water level
2. water temperature
3. ice situation
4. ice thickness and snow thickness
Hydrochemical observations (as for rivers) are conducted at lakes Senno, Loukoml, Neshcherdo, and Drivyaty.
Background monitoring stations are in general located at least 25-30 km away from big cities and 10-15 km - from agricultural farms and reclamation works. In most cases they are placed in regions characterised with descending movement of subsurface waters to keep the picture clean from possible influence of the underlay subsurface waters. Background observation stations are designed to study the natural mode, resources and composition of subsurface waters. Basically these stations are situated in reserves and protected territories. There are three background stations in Z. Dvina river basin.
Regional observation stations are located at all types of territories and characterise the condition of subsurface waters in specific localities. Structurally they are similar to background stations and differ from the latter by forming locations crossing the drain basin from the source area to places of subsurface drain while the former form the isometric network. This permits to control the transformation of subsurface waters at all stages of the life cycle and ensures required reliability of eco-hydrogeological forecasts.
The programme for observing subsurface waters includes general monitoring and special (target) subprograms.
The main goal with the general programme is to provide information of the subsurface water quality and degree of pollution of soil. The special part of the programme for background monitoring aiming to correlate water quality with the data of global studies of the environmental pollution. Special programmes for regional observations are more detailed because it includes heavy metals and toxic substances.
Ecologia programme (1990) provided important objectives for water management. Its general aim in this area is to improve water quality and protect water recourses. More specific objectives include:
In spite of severe economic problems, Belarus has made progress with water management: a permitting system associated with charges on water pollution and withdrawal has been established, and substantial financial resources are being allocated to water management. Water supply system and waste water treatment plants have been improved in many places; such infrastructure is being built or renovated in 45 towns. The overall quality of surface and groundwater has also improved.
Locally however, serious water quality problems persist. Industrial waste water is mostly treated together with municipal waste water, without sufficient pre-treatment by enterprises. Many municipal waste water treatment plants are overloaded and do not have the technical means to treat toxic pollutants. Diffuse pollution, especially nitrates from agriculture, is seriously affecting shallow wells in rural areas, an important part of drinking water supply. Generally speaking, the emphasis in water management is not sufficiently focused on prevention at source.
Definition of water quality in the major river and biggest tributaries is given according to the data of the State Water Cadaster "Water resources, their Use and Quality". Dissemination of water quality in a report is made annually (middle of March).
Water quality in Belarus is described in terms of exceedance of a water pollution index (WPI).The index is calculated based on six traditional parameters of water chemistry; dissolved oxygen, BOD5, ammonia, nitrite, oil products, and phenols. Based on that composite index number, rivers are classified as clean, different levels of polluted, or different levels of "dirty": from class 1, for the cleanest, to class VII, for the dirtiest.
According to WPI most of the Z. Dvina is termed moderately polluted, class II (se table 3). According to the biological benthic WPI, which is the most reliable water quality indicator available, Z. Dvina has very poor water quality, and is together with the rivers Svisloch and Dnepr the most affected rivers in Belarus.
Table 3. Average annual concentrations of priority pollutants hydrobiological indicators in Z. Dvina and Polota.
River Susp, O2, COD, BOD5, NH4, NO2, Fe, Cu, PO4, THC, WPI Bioti mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l index c mg/l mg/l WPI Z. Dvina, 0,5 11.3 8.88 32.7 2.16 0.82 0.034 0.67 0.004 0,033 0,17 1,9 9 km upstream of Sourasz Z. Dvina, 2.0 10.2 10.04 34.7 2.69 0.74 0.022 0.53 0.005 0,041 0,17 1,7 3-9 km downstream of Vitebsk Z. Dvina, 1.5 11.0 10.33 35.5 2.32 0.97 0.025 0.34 0.004 0,028 0,10 1,7 2-4 km downstream of Polotsk Z. Dvina, 15.5 10.7 10.53 36.4 2.18 1.15 0.036 0.48 0.006 0,038 0,16 2,0 5-8 km downstream of Novopolotsk Z. Dvina, 5.5 10.6 9.55 30.7 3.31 1.12 0.092 0.56 0.004 0,030 0,11 2,3 5-7 km down Verkhnedvinsk Polota in 12.8 10.74 28.8 2.17 0.83 0.035 0.78 0.003 0,035 0,09 1,7 2-7 Polotsk
The average indicators are calculated by measurements taken once a month. The maximum pollution of Z. Dvina was registered in 1992, when a stream segment from Novopolotsk to Verkhnedvinsk was characterised as polluted. Integrated evaluation of water quality in Sourasz region classified waters as moderately polluted (index of pollution 1.9, this region was considered clean in the past), and from Vitebsk to Verkhnedvinsk - moderately polluted (index 1,3 - 2,3). Waters of Oulla, Oushacha and Disna are qualified as moderately polluted (index 1.4 - 1.9).
The quality of water in Polota (Polotsk) slightly improved compared to the previous year. Water of Oulla is moderately polluted (index 1,4) in the region of Chashniky. In Novopolotsk in view of nitrites concentrations Oulla is qualified as dirty (index 2,5). Waters of Oushacha and Disna are considered as moderately polluted (index 1.1 - 1.7).
In 1997 very high levels of pollution with molybdenum have been observed upstream of Sourasz and with oil products downstream of Vitebsk and Novopolotsk. Increasing concentration of pollutant was also registered in following tributaries: Oulla (Chashniky), Polota (Polotsk), Oushacha (Novopolotsk), Disna (Sharkovshchina).
The conclusion is that despite certain improvement of the pollution situation in the Z. Dvina and its tributaries the level of specific concentrations still remains very high. This requires locating sources of pollution and elaborating measures to improve the situation.
Ambient water quality monitoring provides information for the targeting of enforcement activities. Ambient monitoring systems serve enforcement needs best when monitoring and laboratory equipment requirements are defined by the authorities responsible for enforcement. Specifically, the allocation of limited monitoring resources should be based on mitigation priorities. Data collection and reporting should facilitate the use of data in enforcement processes.
High quality monitoring is being done in Z. Dvina, but some overlap exist among the institutions involved. Monitoring could be made more cost-effective by using automatic stations and computer models, and reviewing laboratory methods and quality control. Efforts should be made to increase the role of monitoring in decision making; a river basin approach would be valuable.
Consideration should be given to reducing the number of fixed stations monitoring water quality. Mathematical modelling should be introduced and used to maximum extent possible to simulate quality of surface water in Z. Dvina on basis of emission data or statistics on sectored economic activities.
Quality control and quality assurance of the present monitoring system is fragmentary and not looked at as an important tool.
WPI does not represent a full hydrochemical analysis: pollutants such as phosphates, chlorides and heavy metals are not included. The monitoring program should at least be complemented with parameters as total phosphorus and total nitrogen.
There are suggestions to increase the number of sampling points within Z. Dvina, and also to increase the number of parameters used. This will not be economically feasible and hardly improve the value of water quality information (see above).
The water quality in Z. Dvina is rather good compared with some other rivers in Belarus. However, there is a high risk for accidental releases of pollutants, specially for oil (petroleum industry) and nitrogen (animal breeding). Monitoring program should therefore be designed for this type of discharge.
Following projects have been identified to fit the needs described above and to fulfil the intention with the Swedish support to Z. Dvina river basin:
The objectives with the "Quality of Monitoring Performance" project are to identify the needs to modernise monitoring and laboratory equipment, to review test methods and introduce unified quality assurance control programmes, including intercalibration of laboratories.
The objectives with the "Automatic Monitoring Station" project are to identify the need for an automatic monitoring station at the border to Russia and to specify the technical performance of such.
The objectives with "Modern Expert and Information System for Oil Spill" project are to improve an existing Expert system and to introduce the Information system on World Wide Web.
The objectives with "Capacity of Municipal Treatment Plants" project are to identify the level of future capacity and to specify which pollutants treatment are needed for.
The objectives with "Pilot River Basin Management System" project are to introduce a Pilot River Basin Management System in a small tributary to Z. Dvina. Such introduction of a river-basin approach in a tributary could enhance the effectiveness of policies and expenditures within that catchment. This Pilot River Basin Management System would enhance the introduction of a similar system in the whole river basin of Z. Dvina.
Collaboration on Zapadnaya Dvina - Daugava in Latvia is developing between SEPA and the Latvian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development within the framework of a project on the future EU Framework Directive for Water Resources. Belarussian authorities should participate in this collaboration.
First of all a River Basin Commission should be established within the watershed of Z. Dvina. The Commission should meet regularly once a year to decide goals, target activities, and budget. The Commission should also decide about statues for a Secretariat shared by the three countries. The Secretariat will enhance change of information from monitoring activities and intercalibrations between laboratories. The Secretariat will also establish working groups for specific activities as monitoring information exchange and annual water quality report.
There are a specific need to enhance information exchange (EAWS) concerning oils spills in Belarus. Introduction of a mutual early warning system and expert system for oil spill emergencies will improve the present condition.
The Lielupe river drains a 17,800 km2 river basin equally shared between the republics of Latvia and Lithuania. The purpose of the Lielupe River Project is to establish modern, integrated water quality management and pollution abatement action plans for the Lielupe river basin, where both local pollution and the total discharge of pollutants to the Baltic Sea (the Gulf of Riga) are considered. Furthermore, the Lielupe River Project aims at providing a feasible approach to international river basin management within a Baltic Sea context.
The Lake Peipsi Project aims at constructing an international environmental regime in the Lake Peipsi watershed located on the Estonian-Russian border. The Lake Peipsi Project share many issues with the Z. Dvina River Basin Project and both projects would benefit from a closer co-ordination of its activities. When it comes to the formulation and development of robust agreements between riparians, which promote co-operation across the border, an arrangement with a series of workshops would provide a strong means for furthering these issues. This work would preferably involve the advice from international experts in the field, for example scientists connected to the IIASAs environmental negotiation programme.
UNEP/GRID-Arendal, one of the co-operating environmental data and information centres in the UNEP/GRID network, has been working with a number of projects related to environmental information in the wider Baltic region as well as in the three Baltic States since 1991.
They are currently the implementing the UNEP Environment and Natural Resources Information Network (ENRIN) programme for the Central and Eastern Europe. This work focuses on the national policy processes and implementation of recommendations of chapter 40 of AGENDA 21 on Environmental Information for Decision Making. Furthermore, an ultimate goal of this Programme is to contribute to the production of a Global State of Environment report. As a part of the work, UNEP/GRID-Arendal has extensive contact with Russian Belarussian and Latvian environmental authorities. UNEP/GRID-Arendal is also involved in the Gulf of Riga Project funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Obviously, there is a considerable potential in closer collaboration between the Zapadnaya Dvina Project and the ENRIN Programme, for example in the areas of the setting up of a system for information management, and special training activities.
BALLERINA homepage: http://www.baltic-region.net/
The Ministry for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, 1995. The national report on environmental conditions in the Republic of Belarus.
OECD, 1997. Environmental performance review of Belarus. CCET/ENV(97)50.
World Bank, 1993. Belarus, Environmental Strategy Study. Report No. 11926-BY.
This report prepared for the Internet by Dr. Sindre Langaas, 26 Feb 1998.