Polluted river Seim
In Sumy Region, repeated pollution of the Seim River has been recorded. Water quality has deteriorated at the upper monitoring points, extending up to the village of Mutyn. The cause of this recurring pollution is currently under investigation. This was stated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the water quality in the Desna River at the Brovary water intake has returned to normal. At the same time, at the Kyiv water intake, it has slightly worsened.
Regarding the repeated pollution of the Seim River, the Ministry of Environment noted that in the village of Chumakove in the Sumy region, chemical oxygen consumption has increased from 84.2 to 104.2 milligrams per dm³. The norm is 30 milligrams per dm³. Additionally, the level of suspended solids has risen, and ammonium nitrogen has increased from 1.75 to 2.25 milligrams per dm³. This exceeds the standard of 2 milligrams per dm³. Dissolved oxygen has decreased from 3.6 to 1.36 milligrams per dm³, below the required minimum of 4 milligrams per dm³.
«All authorities involved in the localization of the pollution are investigating the causes of the possible recurrence of organic contamination,» the statement said.
As of September 17, water quality at the Desna River water intake points in the Kyiv region remains within normal limits. At the Brovary water intake, chemical oxygen consumption has improved, dropping from 33.2 to 27.12 milligrams per dm³, where the norm is 30 milligrams per dm³. Dissolved oxygen is stable at 5.5 milligrams per dm³.
At the Kyiv water intake, there has been a slight deterioration in chemical oxygen consumption. It has risen to 39 milligrams per dm³, above the norm of 30 milligrams per dm³. However, the oxygen regime is normal at 5.44 milligrams per dm³. Currently there are no risks to water intake, the Ministry of Environment noted.
The pollution moving along the Desna riverbed is less concentrated than at its origin in the Seim River and at the Seim River water intake points in the Chernihiv region. Its dilution is ongoing. No exceedances of pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, or heavy metals have been detected. Additionally, no fish mortality or water darkening has been observed. There are also no recorded exceedances for ammonium nitrogen, nitrites, or chloride levels.
The Ministry of Environment emphasized that, according to Kyivvodokanal and scientists, the treatment facilities at Kyivvodokanal will be able to handle the pollution if it reaches the water intake points. Therefore, the water quality in consumers’ taps will remain unchanged and will continue to meet the State Sanitary Norms and Rules. The only potential issue could be an odor, but Kyivvodokanal has prepared 120 tonnes of pulverized activated carbon to mitigate this.
The State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine, the State Ecological Inspectorate of Ukraine, and Chernihivvodokanal have installed aeration units at nine locations (six in the Chernihiv region and three in the Kyiv region). These units artificially saturate the water with oxygen, accelerating the oxidation of organic matter and aiding the natural river self-purification process.
Earlier, a fish die-off was recorded near Chernihiv due to the pollution of the Seim River. The Seim River was contaminated after the Russians blew up a sugar factory and another facility in the Kursk region.