Mineral Water Contamination Assessment in the Territory of the North Caucasus Health Resort

Abstract

This paper considers results of mineral water contamination investigations at a North Caucasus health resort. The main research tasks were: active and potential contamination source identification, assessment of type and intensity of surface and groundwater contamination, mineral and surface water contamination interconnection estimation, division of territory into districts with different degrees of the water system contamination, and make recommendations on contamination risk minimization. Contaminant sources were identified based on industrial and agricultural sewage water composition research. Characteristic contamination changes in the springs, wells and rivers were investigated from recharge areas and discharge areas. The most intensive contamination sites of surface and mineral water were located at town boundaries, particularly in unsewered parts, and in stock-farm areas. The recommendations on liquidation of the contamination sources in the main mineral water source location particularly in the zone of depression cone were developed.