The Use of Biotechnologies for Treating Underground Waters in North-Western Regions of Ukraine

The Impact of Climate Change on Several Characteristics of the Sources of Water Supply Systems

The quantity of water available for intake for the water supply system of settlements and industrial enterprises depends on the amount of surface flow, the replenishment of underground water-bearing horizons, their characteristics (the degree of isolation, the depth of bedding, capacity), water quality in water supply source. At present in the world, the issue is not sufficiently studied of the interrelationship between surface flow and underground horizons and the rate of their replenishment (Bates, 2008). As the major part of ground waters has the replenishment on account of the surface flow, then under modern conditions of climate change the regimes of surface flow will render certain influence on several characteristics of underground water-bearing horizons. Not numerous studies of the aftermaths of climate change for ground waters show their strong dependence on a particular locality and a specific climate pattern (Eckhardt, 2003). The work (Bates, 2008) shows the possible consequences of climate change both for sources and for water supply systems. In case of heavy precipitation, there arise unfavorable consequences for the quality of surface and ground waters connected with the pollution of water supply sources. In case of drought risks increase of the deficit of foodstuff and water. It is forecast that the increased water temperature, the growth of precipitation intensity, and more continuous periods of low flow will endanger many forms of water pollution including the contamination by drifts, dissolved organic carbon, increased content of phosphorus, heavy metal ions, phenols, pesticides, salt content, heat pollution (Bates, 2008). These processes in their turn will impact not only ecosystems but also the quantity and quality of groundwater used in water supply systems, increasing expenses on their maintenance.