Hydrogeology

Sampling material - Photometry - Water analyses - Limnology museum in Listvjanka

Water analyses

Water analysis of Chernorud

At the 25.07.2004, samples were taken near the camp of Chernorud at three different positions.

The sampling location parameters and dissolved matter like iron, phosphate and nitrate were measured. In the samples taken of the Lakkolith lake, nitrate was below detection limit, in the Arshan spring iron was not detectable.

The iron concentrations in the Lakkolith lake and Kutschelga river are very low, so that no ferrous iron could be identified. The analysed values of nitrate and phosphate are below 0,25 mg/L. All values are under the limits of the German drinking water-regulation of 2001.

There is an empirical correlation between the conductivity and total mineralization. As a rule of thumb is valid: 1 µS/cm is about 0,725 mg/L ion concentration. The conductivity in the Lakkolith lake is more than two times higher than the other taken water samples. This could be a result of the higher temperature and the scarce water flow.

Oxygen could not be identified in the Lakkolith lake. In regard to the redoxpotential, you can draw conclusions about aerobic or anaerobic processes in the water. The redoxpotential is positive in the area of Chernorud. This is a sign for aerobic conditions at the sampled location. The pH values are between 7,5 and 8,1.

At the 26.07.2004, three samples of rivers were taken near the camp. Also the well of the camp has been analysed.

The pH values of these four samples are in the range of 7,7 to 8,4. The temperatures of the samples differ more clearly. The well has a higher temperature as the rivers, approximately 4°C.

Iron, nitrate and phosphate were also determined. The iron content was very low. For some samples the value is below the detection limit. Only at the creek Chernorud 1 the nitrate value is higher in comparison to the others. The phosphate content of the creek Chernorud 2 is twice as high as that of other sampling sites. No critical limits were exceeded. The electrical conductivity is almost the same for all three locations and thus the different water samples have a similar total mineralization. The redox potentials are over 200 mV, thus aerobic processes can be expected. Also the oxygen contents are similar. Only the well shows a higher value. Perhaps it is caused by pumping the water into a pail so that the oxygen concentration increases. The measurement is therefore certainly falsified.

Water samples of lake Baikal

At the 28.07.2004, the first water sample of the lake Baikal was taken at 5.30 pm. Beside the previously described parameters, we analysed the visibility depth

and the concentration of Tannin/Lignin. The visibility depth was up to 15 m at this position. The content of Tannin/Lignin is 1,4 mg/L. These values are analysed for the investigation in regard to the effects of the cellulose plants around the lake.

The other parameter:
Fe(tot) = 0,08 mg/L
NO₃^- = 1,10 mg/L
PO₄^3- = 0,74 mg/L

Temperature = 5,5 °C
pH 8,2
conductivity = 128 µS/cm (128*0,725 = 92,8 mg/L total mineralization)
E_H = 359 mV
O₂ = 65,4 %

The temperature and the electrical conductivity are expectant values. The other parameters are also without attracting specialities and do not need further attention.

S 2 and S 3 are samples taken in the north of lake Baikal. The measured parameters vary only a little bit; above all conductivity, pH, temperature, oxygen and redox potential. There are smaller differences considering the dissolved matter. Sample S 2 contained so few iron, that it could not be determined. The most clearly difference is shown by the nitrate contents. Sample S 2 is nearer to Severobaikalsk as S 3. But the concentration of nitrate is near Severobaikalsk lower as further away. The other way around it behaves exactly different in regard to Lignin/Tannin. The phosphate concentration varies about 0,10 mg/L. The visibility is the only measurement that shows definitely different results.

The reason for this is probably the increased mass of plankton and algae.

The samples S 4 to S 7 are taken along the east coast of lake Baikal. At these locations, there are also no appreciable differences in temperature, conductivity, oxygen and redox potential. The visibility depth could not be measured at the location of S 7, since it was night. The visibility depth of the first sample at the Baikal could not be measured, too. The iron contents are very low as expected. Ferrous iron could not be determined. The nitrate concentrations are similar, except of S 4. At this sampling location the concentration of nitrate is increased. This sample is the northern most of the 4 samples on this day. But we do not have an explanation for this value. The same problem is with the phosphate and Tannin/Lignine values. The lowest concentration at Tannin/Lignin was measured at sample S 7. At this position, we had expected the highest value because the cellulose plants are above all in the south of the lake Baikal. No tendencies could be determined.

Baikalsk

Baikalsk is a city in the eastern part of the lake Baikal and has a big effluent from a cellulose plant which pollutes the adjoining water of the lake. With 40000 m³ untreated sewage per day the plant is responsible for half of all existing harmful substances in the Baikal. Based on this vast pollution Baikalsk has to install a closed water cycle until 2007 and the complete production must be changed until 2015.
So we analyzed the water of the Baikal near the city to get some information about the content of tannin/lignin in this region of Lake Baikal.

Table: hydrogeochemical parameters
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date 2004-08-04
time 2:15 pm
pH = 8.6
conductivity = 116 µS/cm
temperature = 16.0 °C
E_H = 429 mV
O₂ = 8.90 mg/L = 96.50 %

Fe(tot) = 0.03 mg/L
NO₃^- = 0.00 mg/L
PO₄^3- = 0.09 mg/L

Tannin/Lignin = 0.90 mg/L

The analyzed sample shows a definite basic character and has a relative high temperature considering the data of the Baikal samples - maybe an effect of the sewage from the paper plant. The other parameters are more or less similar to the measurements of the Selenga which has also problems with water pollution based on paper plants, industry and waste water of bigger cities.
The low content of iron corresponds to all water samples taken during our excursion. Apparently, no nitrate exists and the measured content of phosphate is also very low.

Selenga river

The Selenga is one of the biggest rivers running south-east into the lake Baikal. It has its source in Mongolia and drains a catchment basin about 950,000 km². The great mass of water flows into the sea forming a large delta.

[Delta of Selenga river in summer]

[Delta of Selenga river in winter]

On the way of approximately 993 km to the Baikal the Selenga flows along big industrial areas and transports especially from paper plants a huge amount of cellulose.
We have taken two water samples at different places of the Selenga ”Selenga1” and “Selenga2” and analyzed them considering the value of lignin/tannin.

Selenga 1

The first sample taken of the Selenga showed the following characteristics:

Table: hydrogeochemical parameters
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date 2004-08-02
time 4:50 pm
pH = 9.2
conductivity = 199 µS/cm
temperature = 21.3 °C
E_H = 369 mV
O₂ = 10.48 mg/L = 125.7 %

Fe(tot) = 0.06 mg/L
NO₃^- = 0.20 mg/L
PO₄^3- = 0.63 mg/L

Tannin/Lignin = 0.3 mg/L

The basic water has a very high temperature and oxygen saturation whereas the electrical conductivity and the redox potential are relatively low. The iron, nitrate and phosphate contents are not unusual in comparison to all other water samples taken.
With regard to the water pollution we could measure a little proportion of tannin/lignin but it was much lower in comparison to the samples taken of the Baikal directly.

Selenga 2

The second sample taken of the Selenga showed the following characteristics:

Table: hydrogeochemical parameters
----------------------------------

date 2004-08-02
time 6:30 pm
pH = 8.4
conductivity = 190 µS/cm
temperature = 18.8 °C
E_H = 399 mV
O₂ = 7.60 mg/L = 86.40 %

Fe(tot) = 0.08 mg/L
NO₃^- = 0.00 mg/L
PO₄^3- = 0.26 mg/L

Tannin/Lignin = 0.30 mg/L

In comparison to the other Selenga sample the pH, the electrical conductivity, the temperature and the oxygen saturation are slightly decreased. Only the redox potential increased about 23 mV. The analysis of the alkaline water presented a little bit of iron, no nitrogen species, and only a small proportion of phosphate. The tannin/lignin content did not change and is still lower than the values we measured directly in the Baikal. In the following diagrams both samples are graphically compared.

[Comparison of both Selenga water samples (1)]

[Comparison of both Selenga water samples (2)]

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