Assessing the Anthropogenic Impact on the Water Resources of Russia

Abstract

The results of studies that have been carried out at the Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences (USSR Academy of Sciences) and data obtained by other institutions are used to assess the impact of various types of economic activity on the water resources of Russia and its aftereffects. The impact includes an indirect, i.e., through the relief, soil, and biota (activities in the nonirrigated agriculture, forestry, and urbanized landscapes) and the direct component (hydroengineering construction, diversion of runoff, water withdrawal, and wastewater discharge). The impact of the complex of anthropogenic factors on the volume and quality of water resources is evaluated. The characteristics of water use in Russia and different parts of the world are compared. The main approaches to solve water problems are proposed.