Shchegolkova N.М., Venitsianov Е.V. Polluted River Protection: Intensification of Self-Purification and Optimization of Wastewater Disposal. RAS, Water Problems Institute. – М.: The Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2011. – 388 p.
ISBN 978-5-85941-422-2
Protection of water bodies is a complex of technical, organizational, economic and legal measures aimed at preventing or reducing the flow of pollutants into water bodies. There are three main areas of natural water protection:
- reduction in the number of effluents, both concentrated and diffuse,
- improving the quality of wastewater.
- management of self-purification processes.
The third area is innovative and the most promising from the standpoint of costs and environmental efficiency.
However, a difficult scientific problem arises, how to influence the processes of self-purification of water bodies, especially in conditions of their significant pollution. The point of view is widespread that this direction is auxiliary and effective only in the case of small anthropogenic loads.
The purpose of this book is, first of all, to destroy skepticism regarding the self-purification capabilities of a contaminated water body. This requires a deep understanding of the essence of the processes that occur in a water body, first of all, with the participation of various levels of biota, more precisely, a holistic ecosystem of a water body. This understanding leads to the conclusion that the anthropogenic load itself can play the role of a regulator of self-cleaning processes. Sometimes it can inhibit this ability to cleanse itself, sometimes it can increase it. In essence, we are talking about a holistic system of "Waste Water Treatment Plant - Water Body." Thus, the regulation of water protection mainly proceeds in two ways, increasing the intensity of self-cleaning and environmental and economic optimization of water conservation measures.
The book is aimed at specialists involved in the study and use of water resources, hydrobiologists, specialists in the management of the protection of water bodies, as well as students, graduate students and masters of relevant specialties as a teaching tool.