NOVOSIBIRSK, August 13. /TASS/. Scientists of the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics (the Russian Academy of Sciences' Siberian Branch) found that groundwater in the Arctic districts, located in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region and in the Krasnoyarsk Region, almost everywhere does not meet drinking standards, the institute's press service said.
"In the study areas, cryolithozone's fresh groundwater almost everywhere does not comply with Russian drinking water standards," the press service said.
Permafrost rocks are practically common in that area, scientists said. Mining in these areas also has a negative impact on water quality.
The institute's experts analyzed data on more than 200 wells from 7 to 150 meters deep, drilled for water supply purposes. They also studied water from wells within big oil and gas and condensate fields, in the settlements of Tazovsky, Krasnoselkup and Sidorovsk (the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region), the villages of Goroshikha and Farkovo, as well as the city of Igarka (the Krasnoyarsk Region).
All types of groundwater in the studied areas have diverse chemical compositions. "Concentrations of manganese, aluminum and silicon are significantly exceeded, and the iron content is dozens of times above normal. Besides, the maximum permissible concentration of ammonium and petroleum products has been exceeded in all types of water, which is explained by man-made pollution," the press service said.
Permafrost waters contain many pollutants (lead, chromium, fluorine, mercury, arsenic, selenium, benzapyrene, which belong to the first and second hazard classes). Inter-permafrost and sub-permafrost waters have higher average values of oxidizability, mineralization, hardness, iron, aluminum and manganese compared to above-permafrost waters. At the same time, the number of pollutants decreases, which indicates that these horizons are more closed from surface pollution.