Environment

Selenginsk

In 1973, the Selenginsk Pulp and Cardbord Mill (SPCM) was built near Selenginsk. The distance to the lake is about 60 km. Until 1991, SPMC annually produced up to about 170000 tons of unbleached pulp. A closed water cycle system and emergency reservoirs were already installed in 1988, so that in 1989 only 10% (5000 m³) were discharged daily by the plant. In the process of purification of waste water, Aluminium sulphate was used. In spite of the purification some salts remain in the discharge. This is one major cause of high concentrations of especially Sodium sulphate and other ones. Since August 1990, the SPCM alleged to stop discharging wastewater completely. But this applies only for sewage. Air pollution and solid waste disposal probably contaminated by heavy metal and toxic substances continued. In 1993, the total volume was about 150,000 m³ of solid waste and 30,000 tonnes of fly ash.

		Selenga_1	Selenga_2
Temperature	°C	21.3	18,7
pH		9,18	8,36
EH	µS/cm²	160	190
LF		199	188
Temperature	°C	21,3	18,8
Oxygen	mg/l	10,48	7,6
Oxygen	%	125,7	86,4
Fe	mg/l	0,06	0,08
PO4-3	mg/l	0,63	0,26
NO3-	mg/l	0,2	0,0
Lignine	mg/l	0,3	0,3

(Sample point Selenga 1)

(Sample point Selenga 2)

Our measurements confirmed that liquid disposal and related contamination of the Lake Baikal decreased. The values of lignine were both quite low, the same accounts for NO3-. The other results can be stated as normal, too. Without a closed water cicle the values of lignine, sulphite, phenol and chloride should be much higher.

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