Hydrochemical characteristics of natural waters in the uppercourse of the Kuban River

Cover Page

Cite item

Full Text

Open Access Open Access
Restricted Access Access granted
Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Abstract

A full-scale survey of water bodies differing in origin and formation conditions was conducted in the upper reaches of the Kuban River and the basin of its main tributary, the Teberda River (about 90 observation points). The purpose was to determine typical and atypical levels of a wide range of impurities in water, to identify the real sources of impurities entering watercourses, their migration, spatial distribution of water bodies with increased concentrations, and possible associations of ingredients. Concentrations of major ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3–, SO42–, Cl–) and ions of trace elements (F–, Li+, Sr2+) were determined by capillary ionophoresis, trace elements (Al, As, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn), by atomic absorption method with electrothermal atomization. Based on the data analysis by methods of order statistics, i.e. five-number summary with adding internal and external upper adjacent values, regional elevated, high and extremely high concentrations were distinguished and the distribution of relevant water bodies in the studied area using GIS was revealed. Spatial analysis has shown that in most cases, but not always, they coincide in location with ore occurrences and scattering plumes (As, Mo), zones of modern volcanism under the western peak of Elbrus (Al, Li, F, Mg, SO42–), of pyritization (SO42–), zones with prevalence of sedimentary carbonate and gypsum-bearing rocks (Ca, Mg, Sr, SO42–). In most of the water bodies (50–75%) the concentrations of almost all components are below the river water clarks. They are so depleted of essential elements (F, Ca, Mg, K) that they do not meet the criteria of physiological usefulness for drinking water. Due to the large number of Cu–Zn and Pb–Zn deposits, manifestations and mineralization points, Zn concentrations in 80% of the observation points are higher than clark. In some water bodies, natural pollution of As, Al and Li reaches dangerous levels exceeding MPC of drinking water up to 5 times for Li, 8.5 times for Al and 14 for As and habitants and tourists use them for drinking. The risks increase against the background of a deficiency of the main cations inherent in these waters.

Full Text

Restricted Access

About the authors

T. V. Reutova

Kabardin-Balkar Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: reuttat@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Balkarova 2, Nalchik, 360017

F. R. Dreeva

Kabardin-Balkar Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: reuttat@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Balkarova 2, Nalchik, 360017

N. V. Reutova

Kabardin-Balkar Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: reuttat@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Balkarova 2, Nalchik, 360017

References

  1. [The State Geological Map of the Russian Federation on a scale of 1:200 000. The second edition. The Caucasian series. Sheet K-38-I, VI, (Kislovodsk). Explanatory note] A.N. Pis’mennyi, A. N. Pichuzhkov, M. A. Zarubina, et al. (Eds.). Moscow, Moscow branch of FSBI VSEGEI, 2013. (in Russian)
  2. [The State Geological Map of the Russian Federation on a scale of 1:200 000. The second edition. The Caucasian series. Sheet K-37-VI, (XII) (Karachaevsk). Explanatory note]. I.N. Semenukha, V.I. Chernykh, V.V. Sokolov, et al. (Eds.). Moscow, Moscow branch of FSBI VSEGEI, 2021. (in Russian)
  3. Dega, N.S. [Geoecological assessment of the drainage basin of the Kuban River in the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic]. In: [Modern problems of geology, geophysics and geoecology of the North Caucasus. Vol. XIII]. Moscow, IHST RAS Publ., 2023. pp. 480–485. (in Russian)
  4. Dement’ev, M.S., Dement’eva D.M. [Anomaly of the background content of heavy metals in the waters of the upper reaches of the Kuban River]. In: [Modern methodological problems of studying, evaluating and regulating environmental factors affecting human health] Moscow, Scientific Research Institute of Human Ecology and Environmental Hygiene named after A.N. Sysin, 2016. vol. 1. pp. 167–169. (in Russian)
  5. [Yearbooks and reviews]. Available at: https://gidrohim.com/node/44 (accessed 18.06.2024) (in Russian)
  6. Ivanov, V.V. [Ecological geochemistry of elements. Reference book: In 6 books. Book 1: S-elements.], E.K. Burenkov, Eds. Moscow, “Nedra” Publ., 1994, 304 pp. (in Russian)
  7. Komarov, R.S. [Natural factor as a possible cause of extremely high concentrations of copper ions in the water of tributaries of the Kuban River]. In [Modern problems of hydrochemistry and monitoring of surface water quality. Part 1]. Rostov-on-Don, Federal State Budgetary Institution “Hydrochemical Institute”, 2020, pp. 210–214. (in Russian)
  8. Lurie, P.M., Panov, V.D., Tkachenko, Yu.Yu. [Kuban River. Hydrography and flow regime]. St. Petersburg, Hydrometeoizdat Publ., 2005. 498 p. (in Russian)
  9. Nikanorov, A.M. [Hydrochemistry]. Rostov-on-Don, “NOK” Publ., 2008, 462 p. (in Russian).
  10. Onishchenko, V.V., Dega, N.S., Gerbekova, D.Yu. [Medico-ecological paradigm of a health resort and recreational Teberda River basin of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic]. Ehkologiya cheloveka, 2016, no. 10, pp. 3–9. (in Russian)
  11. [Resolution of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation dated March 19, 2002 No. 12 “On the introduction of sanitary and epidemiological rules and regulations “Drinking water. Hygienic requirements for the quality of water packaged in a container. Quality control. SanPiN 2.1.4.1116-02” (with amendments and additions)]. Available at: https://base.garant.ru/4178351/ (accessed 18.06.2024) (in Russian)
  12. [Guidance document 52.24.643-2002. Methodological guidelines. Methodology of complex assessment and degree of contamination of surface waters by hydrochemical indicators]. St. Petersburg, Hydrometeoizdat Publ., 2002. 49 p. (in Russian)
  13. Reutova, T.V., Reutova, N.V., Dreeva, F.R., Khutuev, A.M., Kerimov, A.A. [Hydrochemical anomalies in the water bodies of the “Prielbrusye” National Park]. Izvestviya Kabardino-Balkarskogo nauchnogo tsentra RAN, 2022, no. 6 (110), pp. 144–157. (in Russian)
  14. Reshetnyak, O.S., Komarov, R.S. [Trends in the variability of the chemical composition and water pollution level in the Kuban River]. Voda i ehkologiya: problemy i resheniya, 2021, no. 1 (85), pp. 30–40. (in Russian)
  15. Reutova, N.V., Reutova, T.V., Dreeva, F.R., Khutuev, A.M., Kerimov, A.A. [Features of aluminum concentrations in rivers of the mountain zone of the Central Caucaus]. Russian Journal of General Chemistry. 2018, vol. 88, no. 13, pp. 2884–2892.

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download
2. Fig. 1. Map of the location of observation points (sampling) and distribution of high and extremely high concentrations of chemical components in waters: a – Bitiktebe River basin, b – Teberda River basin. Volcanic edifices: peaks of Mount Elbrus: 1 – western, 2 – eastern; 3 – Mount Kukurtli-Kolbashi, the highest point of the extrusive massif of the Kyukurtli volcano, which is coeval with the eruptions of Paleo-Elbrus; (C) – HCO3– ion; (N) – NO3– ion, (S) – SO42– ion.

Download (873KB)
Indexing metadata

Copyright (c) 2025 Russian academy of sciences