Assessment of the water quality of the Lena–Tuora-Kuel main water pipeline (Lena-Amga interfluve)

In rural settlements of Yakutia; the problem of drinking water quality is acute due to the degradation of lakes. To solve this problem; water pipelines from the Lena River have been built. The article evaluates the water quality along the Lena–Tuora-Kuel water pipeline built in 2001. It provides water to three villages (more than 57 thousand people) with 130 km of the water pipeline and 26 km of the canal. The source of the water is the Lena River; the intake is located above Nizhny Bestyakh. The water is supplied with a flow rate of 120 days; which is less than 10% of the minimum flow rate of the Lena River. 

The aim of the work was to study the influence of the Lena–Tuora-Kuel water pipeline on the water quality in lakes and in reservoir lakes located along its route.

In the course of the work; an analysis of the hydrochemical composition of the waters of various reservoirs located along the route of the main water pipeline was carried out. In most lakes; the maximum permissible concentration of trace elements was recorded; which negatively affects water quality. Exceedances in total hardness; magnesium; phosphates; silicon; iron; ammonium nitrogen and nitrates were revealed. Especially noticeable are significant exceedances in phenols (9.6 times); ammonium nitrogen and iron (10 times); nitrites (50 times); phosphates (1.8 times); pH (1.1 times) and total hardness (1.3 times). From 2002 to 2017; there was a noticeable increase in the mineralization of lake waters (from 1.3 to 3.1). The main factor influencing the mineralization and chemical composition of water in the reservoirs of the Lena-Amga interfluve is anthropogenic impact.

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