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ECOLOGICAL CONCERNS Azerbaijan Environmental problems, connected with pollution The provision of the population with high quality drinking water in the needed quantities is important for the health population. Particularly in urban areas such provision is often not sufficient. The local population of the Apsheron Peninsula - without refugees - is more than 2.4 million people, including 2.0 million people living in Baku and 270 thousand people in Sumgait. Baku is the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is a big industrial, scientific and cultural center and a big port on the Caspian . The drinking water supply of Baku is extremely bad. The lack of fresh surface water in the vicinity of Baku and as well as the negligible quantity of fresh underground water resources on the territory of the Apsheron Peninsula made it necessary to try to find water supply sources outside the Peninsula to match the industrial development and the increase of the population (in 1988 the population of Baku was 1.2 million only). The operating reserves of the local fresh and slightly salty underground water on the Apsheron Peninsula are more than 234 thousand m3/day. This water is produced by wells (there are more than 25,000 of them on the Peninsula) and bore wells (about 6,000). Underground water production by centralized water intakes is realized in the villages of Zyrya, Shuvelyani, Buzovni, Bina and Novoye Gala, while on the northern and eastern Apsheron peninsula the water is produced by decentralized water intakes. The water does not correspond to the quality requirements for drinking water. Every year its quality deteriorates. The city of Baku is now supplied with mixed water from four pipelines. The first and second Baku water pipelines carry water from the Shollar-Khachmas hydrologic basin of ground water, from the Djeyranbatan and Kura water pipeline (I and II lines) from surface water of the Kura river and the Djeyranbatan water reservoir. The Shollar water intake was designed for ground water from the quaternary deposits of the Kusar plain. The operating reserves of fresh ground water of this unique deposit, which are of high quality and meet the state standards for industrial and drinking water amount to 1,703,600 m3/day. The Shollar water intake (the I Baku intake), which is 186.4 km from Baku, was constructed near the village of Khudat in the area of Shollar in 1911-1926. The Shollar intake produces 1.27m3/sec or 109,730 m3/day. This intake includes 13 40-70m deep bore wells and 11 216-342m deep bore wells at the Shollar and Farzalioba springs. All the sources are concentrated on the area of about 1.25km2. This water intake is known as the First Baku intake (I BI). The first line was started up in 1917 and operating at full capacity in 1926. The industrial development and the increase of the population caused a water deficiency in Baku, Sumgait and on the Apsheron Peninsula in general. Therefore, the Second Baku water intake in the village of Khachmas was constructed. The intake consists of two consequent batteries of bore wells, producing 2.65 m3/sec or 228,960 m3/day. Further industrial development and rise in dwelling houses construction in Baku and Sumgait brought about a further increase of the water consumption and the need for an additional water source. The surface water of the Samur-Apsheron channel became this additional source. The length of the channel is more than 190 km. The channel rises in the Samur river and along its route it is being replenished out of the Kusar plain rivers, feeding the Djeyranbatan water pipeline with 11.6 m3/sec. The water pipeline was put into operation in 1961. It carries to Baku 6.85 m3/sec, to Sumgait 4.75 m3/sec and for the agricultural needs of the Apsheron peninsula 2 m3/sec. The quality of the water from the Kura pipelines is bad. These water pipelines producing 11.92 m3/sec were put into operation in 1971. All the three of them begin at the Maliy Talish water intake. The production of the Kura water pipeline I is 3.92 m3/sec, of II it is 5.2 m3/sec and of III it is 2.3 m3/sec. The water goes through preliminary sedimentation in radial sedimentation tanks, then it undergoes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and purification. Unfortunately, the water from the Kura river continues to be one of the main water supply sources, although the Kura’s pollution gets worse every year, both abroad (in Georgia and Armenia) and in Azerbaijan. Studies carried out during 1984-1996 show that the water quality in the first two water pipelines and in the Djeyranbatan water pipeline meet the standards for drinking water. The water from the Kura purification station does not always meet the sanitary requirements even after chlorinating, particularly as far as its muddiness and bacteriological indicators are concerned. This water flows through the 135 km long pipeline. It remains in the pipeline 7.5-10 hours. The Kura water pipe-line purification facilities have serious defects in the sedimentation tanks, pumping stations I and II, mixers, reactors and filters. Chemical and bacteriological studies of pure water from 11 reservoirs have shown that their sanitary condition is not adequate because of the water’s high particle content (up to 20.6-52.5 mg/l at the given norm of 1.5 mg/l). There are considerable bottom sediments in the reservoirs with further development of microbes causing secondary deterioration of the water quality. The temperature characteristics of the region has also an adverse effect. The existing chlorinating does not provide a stable sufficient chlorine content in water reservoirs. When the drinking water reaches the users it is not sufficiently chlorinated anymore. Water tests in different districts of Baku demonstrate that the percentage of "non-adequate" water samples in several regions amounts to 50.4-100%. As far as bacteriological indicators are concerned their percentage has been registered in the range of 13.6-91.6% (Nasimi, Narimanov, Surakhani, Jasamali districts). The supply of non-adequate quality of drinking water can cause epidemic and infectious intestinal disease among the populations of Baku and Sumgait. The volume of water supplied to the Apsheron Peninsula from various sources is 27.42 m3/sec. It is assumed that pipeline leakage causes a loss of 50% of the total volume. By the year of 2000 the loss will amount to 15 m3/sec. To remediate the deficiency three new sources have been proposed by the authorities:
Feasibility studies for these proposals have been carried out by the Baku branch of "Soyuzvodokanalproject" (now "Bakvodkanalproject") and discussed in various governmental bodies and public organizations. Supporters of the surface water projects estimate the required investment for the construction of water intakes 20-25% less than for developing ground water sources. Opponents warn of the present degree of surface water pollution and potential further industrial pollution.
Fishery industry Environmental pollution by the chemical, metallurgical, oil and petrochemical industries and the shrinking of fish spawning areas result in depletion of the fish population. In Azerbaijan the catch of sturgeon has decreased by 10 times and of salmon by 46 times. Three quarters of the territory of Azerbaijan (with the exception of its northern and south-eastern parts) is supplied by water the Kura river basin. Although the middle and lower parts of the rivers Kura and Araks flow through the territory of Azerbaijan, they begin in Armenia and Georgia. Within the territory of Azerbaijan the precipitation is considerably lower and the evaporation is higher than in the neighboring countries. These rivers are very important in agriculture, water-consuming industries, hydroenergetics, etc. Lately, the use of the rivers Kura and Araks for irrigation, industrial, service and fishery purposes has been sharply reduced because of their pollution and the pollution of their tributaries. The water of the Araks flowing in from Armenia contains up to three times of the permissible concentration of nitrite and nitrate, 2-5 times the permissible concentration of ammonium nitrogen, 3-80 times the permissible concentration of copper and, reportedly, sometimes elevated radioactivity from the atomic electric power station. Oil pollution as a result of oil and gas production in the Caspian and on the Apsheron Peninsula as well as sewage from oil-refineries and chemical plants are disastrous for the fishery industry of the Caspian . Strongly polluted areas like the Baku bay, the Sumgait coast and Neftyanye Kamni are considered as "dead zones" because of the absence of fish and nutritional ichthyofauna. The pollution affects the ichthyofauna and causes organic disorders: decrease in productivity and growth rates, reduction of the maturity period, genetic disorders and reduced reproduction. The complete disappearance of the zander in the Southern Part of the Caspian is directly related to oil pollution. The disastrous situation of the Caspian herring stocks is also the result of oil pollution. The migration routes of sturgeons have been affected by oil pollution of the Azerbaijan territorial water. Earlier the sturgeons moved from the Southern part of the Caspian to its middle part and back along the western and eastern coasts. Now they come across a barrier of highly polluted water near the Apsheron Peninsula and have to migrate particularly along the eastern coast. The gray mullet stocks have been reduced, too, and great number of crawfish have disappeared. The fishery industry losses are estimated to tens of thousands of tons per year.
Development disorders of fish related to oil pollution.
Catch reduction related to oil pollution
The toxicity of oil is always different for different fish. The most toxic one is the "Neft Dashlari" oil deposit due to the high content of naphtenic acid. Deep physiological changes have been found in the fish organisms poisoned by petroleum and petroleum products. Petroleum influence on the physiology depends on the type and its period. Continuous impact of petroleum concentrations on fish cause:
Tourism The country’s recreation resources are currently being occupied by refugees. To accommodate one million people the government of Azerbaijan had to accommodate a part of them in tourist resorts and hotels. More than 12 thousand tourist accommodations have been given to refugees and more than 70% of recreation and 50% of balneological accommodations. Some of the best resorts are Apsheron, Nabran, Kura, Lenkoran (the bathing son is 5 months), a number of mineral and thermal springs and therapeutic mud; mountainous zones with forest landscapes (a part of them is in Alpine and sub-Alpine zones - Kuba, Shemakha-Ismailli, Belokan-Gabala, Kelbadjar, Karabakh, Kedabek, Nachichevan, Guandja-Naftalan with a number of mineral and thermal springs (Nakhichevan, Karabakh), therapeutic mud and oil - Guandja, Naftalan. There are 252 recreational zones in these regions covering an area of 35,100 ha, the largest part of which is covered by forests. The potential area for national parks and recreation zones is 267.0 thousand ha. It is noteworthy that due to the rising level of the Caspian there are changes of the coastal line, wash-out of the main beach territories and sinking of a large number of recreation facilities situated on the coast.
Environmental problems, related to the rise of the water level Flooded zones related to the rising level of the Caspian. Along with the rising impact of the urbanization on the ecological system of Azerbaijan there is the reverse negative influence of the nature manifesting itself in populated and industrial areas and primarily on the coastal territory.
Losses caused by the rising level of the Caspian.
The rise in the Caspian level has severely damaged the Oil- and Gas-Production Deposits (OGPD), including the oil storage station "May 28", the "Neft Dashlari" piers (several km long) with their bore wells, infrastructure, biological cleaning facilities and 25 bore wells of the "Apsheronneft" deposit. A major part of the Baku International Port has been flooded and destroyed, three piers of 363 m long and hydrotechnical facilities included. The Port's reconstruction requires an investment of USD 55.3 million. The "Twentieth" and "Dubendi" piers belong to the Production Association "Azerneftyanadjag". The destruction of communication lines, pumping stations, storage, piers and cleaning facilities amount to a USD 2 million loss for "Azerneftyanadjag". The fishing port in Govsani, including a 450 m long pier, as well as Pirsagat and Pirallahi have been flooded. The "Bibi-Eybat" Oil- and Gas-Producing Deposit’s oil production has decreased by 35 t/day and its gas production by 3000 m3/day as a result of flooding of 23 ha land and 18 oil producing bore wells. 5 km power lines in the Azizbekov district and 6 km power lines long in the Surakhani district, 4 km cable and 2 transformers in the Sabail district have been destroyed. The repair will cost about USD 2.5 million.
Environmental problems, connected with other countries Because of the counterclockwise main current of the Caspian , Azerbaijan is the prime receiver of border crossing pollution from Russia. Since the Russian industry is by far the gravest polluter of the Caspian , the impact on Azerbaijan is significant. While the once extremely severe pollution from the industry on the Apsheron peninsula has been significantly reduced over the last years as a result of the collapsing markets in the FSU that have led to significantly reduced production and plant closings in Sumgait and Baku, the percentage of pollution coming from Russia has therefore increased. According to the information of water protection organizations in 1992, only 6,799 million m3 of untreated sewage water was discharged into the Caspian (3,423 million m3 from Russia, 1,708 million m3 from Azerbaijan, 1,655 million m3 from Kazakhstan, 13 million m3 from Turkmenistan). The sewage water discharged into the Caspian contains high concentrations of suspended matter, detergents, petroleum products, phenols, heavy metals, biogenic and organic matter. The total annual amount of chemicals discharged into the Caspian through the big rivers reaches 74 million tons, the major part of this matter being carried from the Volga (60 million tons). As for the other big rivers, the Kura discharges 5 million tons, the Terek 3 million tons, the Ural 2.5 million tons, the Sulak 2 million Tons and the Samur 1.5 million tons. The Volga carries the major part of pollutants like petroleum products, phenols, detergents, metals and others. Russia’s contribution to the pollution of the Caspian is over 80%. In Azerbaijan water pollution is identified by the content of dissolved oxygen, nitrites, silicon, petroleum products, phenols, pesticides (5 denominations), detergents, mercury, heavy metals (10 denominations), pH and biochemical oxygen demand. The condition of sediments is controlled for concentrations of mercury, petroleum products and phenols. 95% of the pollution of sewage water are petroleum products. Phenols are the second most frequent contaminants. The rising level of the Caspian leads to an increase of the Volga delta pollution. The main stream of the Caspian carries the Volga delta water to the south along the west coast. The central and southern Caspian are ecologically critical zones as a result of the transfer of polluted water from the Volga, though the decline of industrial production reduced the amount of sewage discharges. At the same time in the western part of the northern Caspian an increase of petroleum hydrocarbons has been determined. Phenol concentrations (0.003-0.006 mg/l) exceed 3-6 times the maximal permissible concentrations. Detergents, ammonium nitrogen, nitrites and nitrates concentrations are relatively low and as a rule do not exceed the permissible concentrations. Although there are no sewage water sources in the territory between the Russian border and Sumgait, the concentration of hydrocarbons (4-6 times MPC), phenols (7-12 times MPC), detergents and nitrogen (1-2 times MPC) in coastal waters is very high. This is the result of a continuous transfer of pollutants by the main water current of the Caspian. The chemical plants and the non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgical plants in Sumgait’s vicinity discharge annually 30-40 million m3 of untreated sewage water into the Caspian , containing petroleum hydrocarbons, phenols, detergents, acids, mercury and other chemicals.
Iran Environmental problems, connected with pollution On the Iranian side the most polluted river is Sefid-Rud flowing though Rasht carrying most of the domestic and industrial wastes of the city into the Caspian. Inappropriate land filling of domestic waste has caused serious pollution. Very often rivers are used for disposing solid waste. Due to industrialization programs of this region, no heavy industries are allowed to be established. Therefore there are no oil refineries, petrochemical complexes or large chemical plants in the provinces of Gilan Mazandaran. The ship reception facilities in Astara, Anzali, Noshahr and Bandar-Turkaman have caused minor oil pollution but no major incident has been reported. Overfishing and poaching is common. Although the Iranian fishing authority (Shillat) controls fishing, unauthorized fishing goes on.
Environmental problems, related to the rise of the water level In the last twenty years the rise in the level of Caspian has become a major concern. Up to the 1970's it was generally considered that the Caspian was shrinking due to evaporation and the shore lines are retarding. Since then the situation has changed. As a result of the 120 cm rise in the level during this period, great damage to property, agricultural land and coastal establishments has been done. The flooding of domestic waste dumping sites in Rasht, Chalus and Tonekabon, has created health hazards. Fortunately no industrial or hazardous wastes land fills or dumping sites exist in the vicinity of the Caspian. Current Iranian regulations do not allow land fills for domestic or industrial solid waste along the coast line. However, it is believed that hospital waste and domestic solid waste is dumped on river banks without permission. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the pollution hazard caused by flooding of dumping sites due to the rise in water level. The rise of the water level has caused some 220 hectares of rice fields to be flooded and another 270 hectares are threatened. Many homes and commercial and agricultural structures have also been demolished or abandoned. The damage to the buildings has been estimated in excess of $100 million (1996) but the total damage is probably much higher. The areas most affected are Astara, Anzali, Chalus, Noor, Babolsar, Ashuradeh and many small villages and townships on the water front.
Environmental problems, connected with other countries Most of the pollution at Iran’s Caspian shores has migrated from the northern parts of the Caspian. This results from the counter-clockwise current in the Caspian. The Volga and other rivers from Russia carry including pesticides and radio active material believed to be 67,000,000 per year. Flooding of dumping sites in Russia and in Kazakhstan and possibly Azerbaijan carries radioactive waste. Azerbaijan and all other FSU countries discharge untreated waste water and industrial solid waste into the Caspian Extensive offshore drilling in Azerbaijan with outdated equipment and flooding of older onshore oil fields is polluting the water with petroleum and chemicals. Municipal waste water, particularly from the largest city on the Caspian Baku (almost 3 million inhabitants) add to the industrial pollution that is carried south by the current. 4.4- Pollution From Oil and Gas Activities. Until very recently Iran had no activities such as exploration, drilling or production of oil, gas and their derivatives in this region. However exploration and test drilling is now carried out in the north - east of Mazandaran (near Turkmenistan Waters). The extent of these activities is very limited and so far no incidents causing pollution has been reported. Most waste from ships is dumped into the Caspian. Since Iranian shipping is very limited, the source of this pollution are other countries.
Kazakhstan
Environmental problems, connected with pollution Kazakhstan inherited a complicated ecological situation resulting from the former USSR's industrial policy. The USSR invested in the development of large production. Almost no money was spent for the protection of the environment. The Caspian Region has been the main source of oil and gas production in Kazakhstan. Oil and gas production were controlled by the Soviet ministries in Moscow. The main objective of that time was to extract as much oil as possible. Associated gas was flared. In the process of oil production ecological problems were never considered. All oil fields were polluted. 3 to 7 million tons of oil may have been spilled on the Ozen field in Mangistau Oblast. Drilling mud and associated underground salted water were pressed out of the ground. The recultivation of land was done mechanically - waste was buried by bulldozers. Transport problems were never satisfactory resolved because of the absence of paved roads. Mining, chemical and oil-refining enterprises operated according to the same principles. In agriculture, the application of fertilizers and pesticides was not standardized or controlled. There are four administrative regions related to the Kazakhstanian part of the Caspian basin: the Aktubinskaya, Atyrauskaya, Mangistauskaya and Uralskaya Oblasts. The Atyrauskaya and Mangistauskaya Oblasts lie directly on the Caspian . The Aktubinskaya and Uralskaya Oblasts are related because their rivers flow into the Caspian . The total population of the area is 570,000, including 440,000 urban and 130,000 rural inhabitants. The capital city of Atyrau Oblast has a population of 150000 (1994). The administrative center of the Mangistau Oblast, Aktau, has a population of 153,100 (1996). There are a refinery, petrochemical enterprises, electric power stations, including one nuclear power station, a fish processing plant, textile factories, machine-building plants, a wharf and ports. The majority of people work in oil extracting and processing enterprises and in agriculture. Economic difficulties of the last years led to a decrease of birth-rate and increase of death rate among the population. Especially infant mortality has risen. The most wide spread infectious decease in these regions is tuberculosis. Every one out of 1000 people is seriously ill and suffers from tuberculosis. Drinking water of Caspian region derives in part from the Ural river and underground sand and sandstone formations. Industrial pollution contaminates the Ural river and the ground water through precipitation. There has been no special research done in Kazakhstan on the impact of the industrial pollution on the quality of food, except one study of the impact of pollution on fish populations. Some fish disease are clearly caused by industrial pollution and pesticides. There are 122 species and subspecies of fish known in the Caspian . Herring is the most populous species. The Northern part of the Caspian , especially shallow water and the mouths of the rivers are the spawning and growing grounds of the most valuable species of fish. After the construction of electric power stations on the Volga river, the Kazakhstanian part of the Caspian and the Ural river turned out to be the main breeding and growing area for frye, fingerlings and larvae. Almost 90% of world stock of sturgeon is concentrated here. There can be found 6 out of 16 species of sturgeon. The fishing industry utilizes 4 types of herring, 3 types of sprat, mullet, golden mullet, roach, sheat fish, common bream, rander and some others. The most valuable Caspian fish are: common sturgeon, beluga, Russian sturgeon, starred sturgeon, farber sturgeon and sterlet. The catch has been decreasing year after year. In 1985 5,910 tons were caught, in 1993 1,112 tons, in 1994 634.6 tons, in 1995 600 tons and in 1996 only 402.6 tons. Caviar production has also been reduced. This alarming situation can be explained by the increase of water pollution of the Caspian , which began in the 1980s. As a result of this pollution the fish changed their migration routes as well as spawning and growing grounds. The pollution of the Caspian provoked disease and reduced the reproduction ability of the fish. Another object fishing is the Caspian l. 7,621 ls were caught in 1994, in 1995 9,528, in 1996 7,750. The total number of the Caspian ls is about 500,000. The littoral zone of the Kazakhstan is inhabited by 278 species of birds. 110 species make nests, 76 species hibernate there and 92 species are to be passing through. 27 species of birds have been put on the list of endangered species. Tourism is undeveloped in Kazakhstan because there are no adequate services. The Kazakhstan part of the Caspian has only three protected natural zones: one is in the shallow-water sector of the North Coast and the Ural river (up to the merging point with the Barbastau river). It is protected by the Ramsar Convention. The Novinskaya natural protected sector is situated in the delta part of the Volga river, and the Aktau-Bozashy National Wildlife Refuge is in the Mangistau Oblast.
Environmental problems, related to the rise of the water level The rise of the water level and floods influence the pollution of the Caspian . It is noted that since 1978 the level of the Caspian has been rising. At the present moment the water level has risen about 2.5 meters. It caused flooding of industrial objects, arable lands and residential areas. The ecological balance has been damaged. A great volume of polluted substances and wastes has been washed into the Caspian. The existing pipeline system in Kazakhstan was put into operation in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some facilities of the pipeline system, such as oil tanks, power supply systems, control and monitoring equipment and some pipeline sections are completely worn out. Each year there are two or three pipeline accidents with a loss of more than 200 tons of oil and 10 - 15 accidents with a loss of up to 10 - 15 tons. 15 cases of oil leakage caused by corroded and worn out metal in the linear portion of pipelines of the company YuzhNefteProvod were registered during 1994-1995. Oil fields, located on the coast of the Kazakhstan part of the Caspian , are polluted by petroleum (1.5 g/kg). The nickel concentration is 10 times above the normal, concentration of box-calf is 3 times above the normal, phosphorus is 30 times and mercury 3 times above the normal concentrations. At present the flooded littoral area is more than 20,000 square kilometers. 13 oil fields are in the flooded sector. If the water level rises to the expected -25 m, more than 20 oil fields will be flooded. Some expert caution that even a level of -21 m could be reached. A particular danger for oil production wells is shifting of the ice cover in the winter, which can destroy well-head equipment and cause spills of oil into the Caspian. Special technology could help remediating this situation. Kazakhstan has no experience in offshore oil operations. Drilling mud and chemical waste could further contaminate the water. The increase of the level of the Caspian raises the salt concentration in ground water. This affects the quality of drinking water. The deficiency of pure water makes it difficult to supply people and domestic animals with drinking water. Flooding threatens vast territories. More than 700 kilometers of highways and motor ways, 290 km of railroad, 890 km of pipelines, more than 900 km of electric power lines, ports in Aktau, Atyrau and Bautino, airports in Atyrau and settlements on the coast are endangered. Flooding of agricultural land is caused by both the increasing water level and zoned flash floods. About 5,000 sq. km agricultural areas is currently affected. Flooding of sewage systems and dumping grounds for waste puts the people at an additional risk of contracting water borne infections..
Environmental problems, connected with other countries Industrial pollution of Kazakhstan's part of the Caspian are sometimes difficult to attribute to sources. The Ural river, for example, flows from Russia through Kazakhstan into the Caspian . Not only industrial enterprises on the shore but also along the rivers flowing into the Caspian contribute to the pollution of the Caspian. The main artery of water pollution is the Volga river because more than 2700 industrial enterprises are located on its banks. They discharge 150,000- 170,000 tons of petroleum and petroleum products, 4,000 tons of synthetic surface-active substances, 6,000 - 20,000 tons of copper, zinc and other heavy metals, about 1,000 tons of phenols, sulfuric and hydrochloric acids and large volumes of pesticides.
Russia Environmental problems, connected with pollution The annual discharges into deltas of the Volga, Terek and Sulak rivers amount to more than 2-5 tons of heavy metals, 62-146 thousand tons of oil products and about 4,5 million t of biogenic pollution that accumulate in bottom sediments of the delta and the estuary part of the Caspian . Constant intensive discharges of untreated and not adequately treated industrial and municipal wastewater is the main reason for disturbances of the gas regime of water (oxygen deficit, formation of hydrogen sulfide zones). Pollution by toxic substances is ostracized by the rise of the Caspian level. Toxic substances come from flooded waste deposits, cattle burial grounds, agricultural lands, oil and gas extraction sites. Significant volumes of pollutants spread over the water body of the Caspian and penetrate into bottom sediments. Self-purification processes are too slow. Regional pollution of bottom sediments by heavy metals, first of all lead and cadmium, in the Northern Caspian has been reported. Their concentrations exceed background values many times. Microelements in bottom sediments may be a secondary source of marine water pollution. It results in pollution and oppression of ichtyofauna. Especially unfavorable is the environmental situation in deltas and marine estuaries that are the most valuable natural aquatic complexes and spawning and breeding grounds of fish and nesting places for waterfowl. During 1995, the level of pollution of parts of the Caspian , adjacent to the coast of the Russian Federation, decreased or stabilized. In the Republic of Daghestan the environmental conditions are influenced by: emissions of gaseous and solid pollutants into the atmosphere, discharges of polluted wastewater into water bodies, disturbances of the soil regime in the course of extraction of mineral resources, pollution of the area by dumping sites with municipal and industrial waste. The most acute problem is pollution of rivers and water bodies of the Caspian basin by wastewater and residues of toxic chemicals and fertilizers. In 1994 52,2% of samples of water did not correspond to hygienic standards in sanitary-microbiological quality, 58% in terms of sanitary-chemical indices (organic pollution, increased concentration of oil products, BOD). In general, 33% of all wastewater discharged without treatment. In the Republic of Kalmykia atmospheric pollution is the most serious environmental problem due to the growing volume of gas and aerosol emission of anthropogenic origin. In 1995 44.6 million m3 of untreated wastewater was discharged into surface water bodies of the republic. Emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere in 1994 were over 30,000 tons from stationary sources and over 77,000 tons from motor vehicles. Annually 125,000 tons of solid domestic waste is generated here, but there is only one improved dumping ground (in Elista) and a large number of poorly equipped dumping grounds. However, high technogenic environmental pollution in Kalmykia is caused mainly by sources, located beyond its territory. Due to its geographical position the republic became the collector of highly mineralized, chemically contaminated waters and industrial wastewater and of atmospheric emissions from industrial objects in the Volgograd and Astrakhan Oblates. In 1995 emissions into the atmosphere reached on the territory of the Astrakhan Oblast 82,700 tons, 89.8 million m3 of contaminated wastewater was discharged into water bodies. Significant ecological tension in the Volga delta and in the Northern Caspian results from discharge of drainage waters with increased mineral content and large amount of pesticides as well as leakage from tanker and pipeline transport of oil through the port of Astrakhan. The health of the population of Daghestan is in relatively satisfactory state. Life expectancy is among the highest in the Russian Federation. However, infant mortality among is very high. The mortality rate from infectious-parasitic disease and respiratory disease is increased, too. Kalmykia’s population has the worst health indices. Life expectancy here is almost the lowest in the Russian Federation. Infant mortality and standardized coefficients of mortality are among the highest. Especially high is mortality from infectious-parasitic disease, disease of digestion organs, from neoplasm and injuries. The Astrakhan Oblast’s population’s health situation is not good either. Life expectancy among males, infant mortality and standardized coefficients of mortality are worse than average for Russia. Mortality is especially high from infectious-parasitic disease, neoplasm and injuries. Presumably because of the emissions the number of registered cases of respiratory infections (22.9%) and influenza is growing in this oblast. The unfavorable medical-environmental situation is aggravated in territories directly adjacent to the Caspian. Special attention should be paid to infections and parasites directly connected with the water factor in spreading of disease. Low quality of natural water in water supply sources, lack of treatment facilities and neutralizing plants on 30-50% of water supply systems are the main reasons for the serious sanitary condition of water supply to the population. The percentage of objects of the technical and drinking water supply system, which do not meet the sanitary norms and rules for the sources of centralized and de-centralized water supply, is in the Daghestan, Kalmykia and Astrakhan Oblasts 34.2 and 35.5%; 20.9 and 45.5%; 20.1 and 27.1%, respectively. The low quality of drinking water generates intestinal disease. Pollution is destroying the habitat of many species in the Caspian basin. The ability for self-purification of the Volga is completely destroyed. Constant presence of toxins in the water causes their accumulation in the ground, feeding organisms, in intestines and tissues of fish, and it leads to destruction of their reproductive functions, death of young fish and mature species and loss of nutritional qualities. Under the impact of cumulative toxicosis, conditioned by constant pollution over many years, a degeneration of the sexual functions of sturgeon sires is observed, up to total resorption of caviar. Average share of fishes with caviar resorption in the tail water of the Volgograd hydroelectric power station for female sturgeon makes up 18%, for beluga females - more than 21%. Sturgeon sires with symptoms of caviar resorption do not participate in the spawning process. This reduces serious the sturgeon’s reproduction. Perennial detrimental anthropogenic impact on the ecosystem of the Volga-Caspian basin resulted in reduction of population and catch of sturgeons, wild carp, bream, pike-perch, Caspian roach, herring and other valuable fish species in the main inland commercial fish water body of the country. In 1932-1936 the average annual catch of those fish species and other valuable species amounted to about 400,000 tons and in 1951-1955 about 280,000 tons only. In recent years the catch of valuable fish species did not exceed 45-50,000 tons per year. In 1994 only 3,115 tons of sturgeons in Russian water bodies was caught. the absolute population of sturgeon decreased more than twice in comparison with 1991 and made up 43,6 million individuals. In 1995 the sturgeon catch in the Volga-Caspian region of the Russian Federation was down to 2,830 tons (including the licensed quotas of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan). The major burden of expenditures on maintenance of valuable fish resources in previous years has been born by Russia. 17 fish breeding farms have been established on the rivers Volga, Terek, Sulak, Samur. They annually release more than 2,6 billion individuals of young fish, raised up to survival stage. 372 ha of natural breeding grounds and 37 ha of artificial breeding ground for sturgeon fishes function in the Volga riverbed, downstream of the Volgograd hydroelectric power plant. 36-40% of sturgeon 100% of white salmon are artificially bred. However, protection measures for the restoration of fish stock can not prevent the anthropogenic impact on the Caspian basin ecosystem. In terms of recreational resorts the Russian coast of the Caspian is developed unevenly. Most traditional resorts are on the Daghestan coast. The deterioration of the Caspian water quality has a negative impact on the coastal resorts.
Environmental problems, related to the rise of the water level The last significant water-level fall (by 290 cm from - 26,1 m to -29,0 m) was observed in the period from 1933 to 1977. During that period of time the coast was constantly developed - industrial and municipal construction took place along with construction of sanatoria and recreational complexes. Agricultural zones and pastures were formed, too. Many economic and municipal objects were built between -27,0 and - 25,0 m, i.e. in the zone of perennial fluctuations of the Caspian level. Between 1978 and 1995 a water level rise was observed. Its average was 239 cm (from -29,0 m to -26,61 m) across the water body of the Caspian. Taking into account spring and summer floods, the level of the water rose even higher. In July 1995 the hydrometeorological station in Makhachkala reported a water level of -25,97 m. A 10-30 km wide area was flooded within 5-8 days by wind induced surges up to -25,0 to -23,3 m. In 1996 the average Caspian level fell by 18 cm. However, this can not prove a reverse in the trend of fluctuations. 214,800 people live on the Russian coast of the Caspian directly in the zone of regular flooding, including 97,700 on the territory of Daghestan -, 20,600 in Kalmykia -, 96,500 in the Astrakhan Oblast. 10 urban and 88 rural settlements with industrial and residential areas and infrastructure are located in the zone of potential flooding at a water level of minus 26 meters. Flooding of coastal urban territories is especially dangerous, because it results in damaging the foundations of buildings. The estimated seismicity of a part of the towns has also increased from 7 to 9. Older buildings are not designed for this level. The following environmental problems are connected with the rise of the Caspian level: - flooding of large territories far inland occurs at a speed 1-2 km per year, it covers industrial sites, agricultural lands, built up territories, quarries, sewerage collectors, treatment facilities, stores of pesticides, cattle burial grounds, manure depositories, damage is brought to habitats of wild animals, nest birds, spawning grounds, cattle paths to productive pastures in the delta of the Volga and on the coast of Kalmykia. A part of residential areas of the towns of Derbent, Makhachkala, Kaspiisk, Lagan and other settlements are destroyed and are in a breakdown condition, as well as sections of the railroads Baku - Makhachkala and Kizlyar - Astrakhan, objects of fishery and agriculture, resorts and recreation objects, wastewater canals, communication lines and other objects of economy and life-support. In the result toxic substances, which were earlier immobilized in industrial wastes storage, ponds-evaporators, waste dumps, get involved in migration processes. There occurred contamination of surface and ground waters by oil and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, heavy metals, phenols, salination of soils of coastal territories (coasts of Daghestan and Kalmykia, delta of the Volga) is growing progressively; Flooding can cause the following problems:
The presently flooded shallow part within level limits from -28,0 to -26,9 m has a complicated water exchange with outer part of the Caspian and accumulates persistent pollutants from the land, such as oil products, pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, etc. (Volga delta and avant-delta, Agrakhan bay, Terek river mouth). It causes pollution of bottom sediments, deterioration of habitats of the water fauna, and jointly with active eutrophication - the formation of anaerobic zones, hypoxia in bottom layers, death of fish and benthos, that serve as source of food for commercial fish species. The gradual shift of the coastline towards the inland results in the shift of the swamping zone and intensive unload of water by evaporation. The boundary of highly mineralized ground waters and brines shifts correspondingly. Natural complexes of protected areas are exposed to intense transformation. A significant part of them suffers from flooding. A number of natural reservations in the Astrakhan Oblast are within the flooding zone of the Caspian Water. Among them are the Astrakhan biosphere reserve (74,3 thousand ha), 8 state parks (35,6 thousand ha), 5 ornithological sanctuaries, 20 game reproduction areas (about 28 thousand ha), forests of the first group (about 4% of the territory.) In Daghestan among are the Dagestanskyi reservation, 3 nature parks, 5 game reproduction sites. If the Caspian Water-level rise to -25 m a significant part of protected natural areas in the deltas of the Volga, Terek and Sulak will be flooded. The water level rise of the Caspian will inevitably result in an increase of mineralization of ground water (more than 3 g/l) on the major part of flooded coastal area. The increase of the chloride concentration in water will significantly influence the calcium/magnesium ratio by increasing the latter. Decease risk factors will rise due to increase of ion concentrations. This will cause functional changes in human body and may cause intestinal disease. It raises the risk of infections and, especially dangerous water borne infections. By the beginning of 1996 total economic damage of the Republic of Daghestan, Republic of Kalmykia and Astrakhan Oblast, connected with water-level rise of the Caspian , has made 13,2 trillion rubles (about 2,8 billion dollars).
Environmental problems, connected with other countries The Caspian region is a divers environment in many respects. However, geographically and environmentally it is one interdependent system. Therefore, existing complex environmental problems of the region are connected with anthropogenic impact (and first of all with pollution) from sources, belonging to all riparian states. At the same time, use of natural resources of the region is often connected with interests of the third countries, that participate or plan to participate in the use of those resources. One of the reasons for significant environmental tension in the Volga river delta and in the North Caspian is the increase of volumes of transportation of crude oil and oil products by tankers to countries of the Baltic, Black and Mediterranean s. Oil storage bases are located in the port of Astrakhan. Ships from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan sail through it. In order to prevent a pollution from ships of those countries on February 25, 1995 the Decision of the Astrakhan Oblast Assembly “On the state environmental control on foreign ships within the Astrakhan Oblast” was enacted. Global experience in exploration and development of marine oil and gas deposits suggests that even, if the norms and rules of drilling are observed, drilling rigs can be a source of pollution of the marine environment by oil, emulsifying agents, surface-active substances (surfactants), lubricants, heavy metals and radionuclides that are discharged into the Caspian with drilling fluids, slurry and stratal waters. Pollution in the regions of oil and gas fields development can be seen sometimes at a distance of 5-12 km from the site. The negative impact on the biosphere starts already at the stage of seismic survey. Detonations are especially disastrous. They have already killed large numbers of Caspian sturgeon in 1967. Use of air-operated sources of sound pulses produces disastrous impact on grubs and young benthos fish in their spawning and breeding grounds, though to a smaller extent. Oil has a toxic impact on marine organisms, including bacteria, algae and fish. The average toxic concentration of oil products for fish is about 0.01 mg/l, for annelida 0.1 mg/l, for shellfish 0.1 mg/l, for crustaceans - 0.1 mg/l, for macro algae - 100 mg/l, for phytoplankton - 0.1 mg/l. Grubs and young fish are affected primarily. The toxic properties of oil significantly increase in combination with other pollutants, discharged in the course of drilling works, especially with detergents and emulsifying agents. This multicomponent toxicant is concentrated on the contact surfaces “air-water” and “water-ground”, affecting most vulnerable forms of neiston and benthos, including caviar and grubs of commercial species, and breaks the structure and function of communities. Large-scale extraction of hydrocarbon raw from the bottom of the Caspian could cause:
As it has been mentioned above, one of the consequences of the water level rise is pollution by toxic substances from washed out and flooded dumps, waste disposal grounds, cattle burial grounds, agricultural land and from oil and gas fields. Peculiarities of surface currents and intensity of vertical water circulation in the Caspian lead to a situation, when the impact of pollution is extended to the whole water body. Among the problems, connected with other countries, is the risk of significant pollution of the Caspian region of Russia and the Caspian waters in general by oil as a result of rupture or leakage of pipelines from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to the Black ports.
Turkmenistan
Environmental problems, connected with pollution Most people in Turkmenistan’s coastal zone of the Caspian live in cities. Turkmenbashi has 63 000 inhabitants, Cheleken 14 000, Beckdash 7 000. 31,000 live in villages of the Turkmenbashi District and 10 000 in the Kizilarvat District. In urban areas drinking water is supplied by pipelines. These are often leaking because of age and lacking maintenance. The drinking water quality is not very good, also due to a deficiency of purification facilities. In smaller villages with not enough or no fresh ground or surface water the population consumes rain water and bottled water, not always of satisfactory quality. In 1995 some research was done on the quality of drinking water in various regions of the Caspian coast . In Turkmenbashi: - Chemical parameters in 37 samples, 9 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (24.3 %); - Microbiological parameters in 161 samples, 62 (38.5 %); 120 samples Food products were investigated, 15 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (24.3 %). In Cheleken tap water was investigated, too: - Chemical parameters in 165 samples, 6 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (3.6 %); - Microbiological parameters in 320 samples, 33 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (10.3 %); 145 samples of food products were investigated, 15 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (10.3 %). Tap water in Gizilatrek Etrap: - Chemical parameters in 10 samples, 9 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (90 %); - Microbiological parameters in 7 samples, 6 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (85.7 %); 13 samples of food products were investigated. They satisfied the sanitary norm. In Turkmenbashi Etrap tap water showed the following results: - Chemical parameters in 212 samples, 8 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (3.7 %); - Microbiological parameters in 342 samples72 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (21.0 %). 117 samples of food products were investigated, 6 of which did not satisfy the sanitary norms (5.1 %). The low incomes of the major part of the population of a coastal zone, especially of blue collar workers, the large number of dependents in the families, rising unemployment figures, low pensions and the constant increase of the costs of living do not allow many families to eat a balanced diet. In spite of the fact that in working class families 55.6 % of the family income is now spent on food as opposed to 37.0 % in 1990, and in families on collective farms 52.8 % (compared to 37.9 % in 1990) the average individual food consumption is lower now. The diet is poor in vitamins: berries, fruits, vegetables have been reduced, bread and grain products increased. Research has shown, that the diet of the urban and rural population does not answer the physiological needs of the population. Deficiency of animal protein insufficiency of the vitamins C, B, ?2 have weakened the immune system of many people. Poor quality of drinking water of and food along with a bad ecological situation resulted in an increase of disease in the coastal population. The tables below demonstrate this.
In the Caspian eutrophication is caused by superfluous receipt of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic substances. This leads to the formation of zones with lowered oxygen content in the most productive northern part of the Caspian. The bad conditions over the last 40 years in a of water resources have affected the reproduction of most fishes and caused significant decrease of their populations. The average annual catch during 1986 - 1990 was 87,800 tons as compared to 283,170 tons for 1951 - 1955. The tendency keeps falling. In 1990 the catch of sturgeon was 13,500 tons, in 1993 only 6,050 tons, and for 1994 - 4,774 tons. In 1990 Turkmenistan caught 40,900 tons of kilka, in 1993 15,000 tons. The decreasing catch of kilka is in part due to the unsatisfactory condition of the fishery fleet, but also to environmental conditions. In the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s about 300 thousand birds lived on the coast of Turkmenistan. The Caspian level rise has caused an increase of fodder resources (distribution alga) and subsequently in an increase of numbers of birds up to 400 - 600,000. However, of 28 kinds of endangered kinds there are now 23 kinds left. About 50 000 tourists visit the coast of Turkmenistan annually. In the last years this number has increased.
Environmental problems, related to the rise of the level Some residential quarters of the Cheleken peninsula have been completely flooded. On the south tip of the peninsula there is an island forming (Dervish) because of flooding from two sides. About 150 families live in the settlement Karagel, which is getting submerged. Today some homes along a coast are already partially flooded. The lower coastal part of the city of Cheleken is flooded and threatened by landslides. The coastal dam is getting eroded. Larger parts of the city could be submerged within the next years. Agricultural zones are not viable on the Turkmenian coast of Caspian with the exception of some distant pastures. Industrial objects, such as NGDU “CHMNG”, Cheleken’s chemical plant, some railroad tracks and the oil storage facility of Cheleken are flooded already. The industrial storage facility CHSMU, the mooring “Turkmenoilfleet” and the power substation “Beckdash” with a capacity of 110 KW are partially flooded. Many large industrial objects get in a zone of submerging, which is alarming. Submerging of large oil and gas deposits in Western Cheleken, Komsomolskiy and Koturtepe problems results in many problems: Clearing structures of Cheleken including six consecutive sedimentation pools, a pumping station, and a side pipeline. Since parts of the facilities and the pipeline have been destroyed by flash floods, reconstruction is needed. Also, two of the sedimentation pools are frequently flooded, so that a reliable functioning of the waste water cleaning facility is not possible. In direct vicinity of the waste water treatment structures is a reservoir with petroleum waste. It is 2,4 km long, 1.2 km wide and 0,6 - 0,9 m deep. This pond is about to be flooded by the rising water. Rainstorms have washed oil waste with floods waters back into the Caspian. Currently, efforts are taken to protect the reservoir by a dam. In connection with submerging of tanks with petroleum on base of Cheleken manufacture of work on strengthening a coastal line, and also dismantle and carry of oil store is necessary. An oil-gas extraction line of NGDU “Turkmenoilfleet,” the industrial zone SMU-1 ON “CHMNG” and moorings of the joint venture “Larmag-Cheleken-Oil” are also threatened by flooding. Close to the coast line is a chemical factory that could be eventually submerged and a dumping ground with radioactive coal, a byproduct of iodine extraction. On the east and south-east coast of a gulf near the oil-gas deposit Komsomolskoe and Koturtege the water has flooded a huge territory. “TurkmenNIPIoil” has prepared a project study called “Protection of the Plants and Deposits of the Association Turkmenoil.” However, the project has not been realized. The rise of the water level also poses threat for residential areas and community facilities. The following objects in Cheleken are completely flooded already:
Other objects, such as p/p Aladja, a military commissariat, a sanitary-epidemic station, an office of CHURB and the road Beckdash - Omarata are partially flooded. About 16 km communication lines pass over flooded territory and 18 km, which connect Cheleken with Nebitdag, are submerged. A large part of the main water pipeline Djebel-Cheleken (about 24 km) passes through flooded territory. The radio telephone station number 7 of the management of communication KBNGC is flooded. About 2,7 km of he road to the port of Aladja are under 0.5 - 1.2 m deep under water. Only special vehicles that can pass over sand on a side road can access the port. The Gulf of Cheleken has expanded from northwest of Koturtepe to northeast of Cheleken. The former peninsula Buguljar has become an island. Approach of the water do not stop and sand. More flooding is threatening the southern Turkmenian coast in the Atrek region, where the settlements Gasankuli and Chikishljar are located. Already now flash floods occasionally reach the settlements. They may have to be moved to safer places.
Environmental problems, connected with other countries The largest amount of pollution reaches the Caspian through the rivers. The Volga alone contributes some 84 % of the Caspian’s total pollution. The largest share of polluting substances has petroleum - about 98 %. The Caspian receives from the Russian Federation annually through the rivers Volga, Terek, Sulak, Samur the following load of contamination:
Azerbaijan discharges through the river Kura:
Kazakhstan discharges through the Ural river:
Turkmenistan does not have many river flowing into the Caspian (the river Atrek is to dry to even reach the Caspian). Iran’s relatively small rivers into the Caspian contribute only about 13 cubic km of water in a year. On territory of Iran of the river proceed through foothills and plane through agricultural regions. Their contamination is mainly of agricultural and municipal origin. However, it is relatively small compared to Russia and Azerbaijan.
The main water current flows on the west coast from the mouth of the Volga to the south, then eastward along the Iranian coast and from there to the north along the coast of Turkmenistan all the way up to Kazakhstan. The coast of a Turkmenistan has therefore the purest water. |
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