Seasonal fluctuations of the physical and chemical composition of surface waters within the framework of Yaremche tourist destination

Abstract

Yaremche tourist destination aggregates a significant number of tourist accommodation establishments, hotels, green estates, etc., wastes from which cause both direct and diffuse pollution of surface waters. The seasonal changes and fluctuations of physical and chemical indicators of surface water quality of the Prut River basin within the framework of regular monitoring within Yaremche tourist destination on the basis of the field researches carried out by the authors have been investigated. The observation program included two hydrological seasons: the spring high water period and the autumn low of 2021. The surface waters from the Prut River and its tributaries in the area from the village of Dora (suburbs of Yaremche) upstream to the village of Vorokhta were studied. Samples were taken at ten observation points. Regulatory approved methods and certified equipment were used to perform laboratory tests. During the spring floods of 2021, the pH value was relatively stable in all samples with an average of -7.8. The content of ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) in the samples taken during the flood period is slightly increased compared to the low tide period. The highest recorded value of ammonium (0.5 mg/dm3 ) is in the line of the Kamianytsia River, Mahura tract, in other samples it ranges from 0.15 to 0.25. The content of phosphates (PO₄³⁻) has reached the highest recorded value (0.15 mg/dm3 ), and the total mineralization of the water of the Prut River in Yaremche is mostly weak and moderate (150-250 mg/m3 ). The lowest rates of mineralization occur during the spring floods, the highest are characteristic of the winter low, which generally corresponds to the natural conditions of seasonal changes. The values of the qualitative composition of waters in the low tide period in terms of nitrates in all samples are higher than in the period of spring floods. The highest concentration of nitrates (56.7 mg/dm3 ) was recorded in the autumn in the area of the Zhonka River, in the town of Yaremche downstream of the concentrated accumulation of green estates and hotels. The obtained laboratory results show that except for nitrate pollution, all other analyzed indicators of physicochemical composition of surface waters in the study area are within acceptable limits. Both periods of the study belong to the tourist off-season with the fewest visitors during the year. The obtained results prove that under these conditions the self-cleaning property of surface waters can cope with direct and diffuse pollution both in the period of high water and in the period of low water

Keywords

• seasonal fluctuations
• pollution
• surface waters
• tourist destination