Evaluation of the Teletskoye Lake water quality for its usability for irrigation and agricultural water supply in the Biya River basin

Abstract

Under the conditions of intensive economic activity and constantly growing anthropogenic load on water bodies, the issues of optimizing the use of water resources become increasingly relevant. Retrospective evaluation of water quality dynamics in natural reservoirs made it possible to identify the changes occurring in them under the influence of natural processes and anthropogenic activities. Based on archival scientific materials, observation data and the study of phenomena and processes for the period from 1900 through 2023, it was found that they were in a stable state, characterized by a narrow range of spatial and temporal variability of the chemical composition in the conditions of their formation. At the same time, we have found that water quality is subject to significant changes as a result of the direct impact of economic activities. This is expressed in the supply of phenols from adjacent areas which are formed naturally due to wood decay and during forest fires. Nitrogen compounds are confined to the coastal zone of settlements, tourist centers and large picnic areas for managed tourists. Petroleum products enter during the navigation period. The content of trace elements (including “heavy metals” of hazard classes 1-3) in lake water relative to the “fishery” maximum admissible concentration is ranked as follows: Al (1.6), Fe (2.4), Zn (6.7), Cu (12.1), Hg (1.5). The maximum excess is as following: Mo (2.8), Al (4.5), Mn (4.8), Fe (7.7), Zn (18.0), Hg (4.2), Cu (89.0). The analysis of the results was carried out using general logical methods - systematic and structural approaches, and data comparison. In general, the quality of water in the Teletskoye Lake corresponds to the indices that allow its use after appropriate treatment for drinking water supply as well as for watering livestock and irrigating local areas in the Biya River basin.