Repeated pollution of the Seim River was recorded in Sumy Oblast: the cause is being investigated

River Seim

Illustrative photo/Regional office of water resources in Sumy region

Deterioration of water quality from the river was recorded in Sumy Oblast Diet in the upper monitoring points on the section to the village of Mutyn.

The reason for the re-contamination is being investigated, reported Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

At the same time, the quality of water in Desna at the Brovary water intake normalized, while at the Kyiv water intake it slightly worsened.

In the village of Chumakovo, the chemical consumption of oxygen increased from 84.2 to 104.2 milligrams per dm³, with a norm of 30 milligrams per dm³, the content of suspended solids increased.

Indicators of ammonium nitrogen increased from 1.75 to 2.25 milligrams per dm³, with a norm of 2 milligrams per dm³.

And dissolved oxygen decreased from 3.6 to 1.36 milligrams per dm³, with a norm of at least 4 milligrams per dm³.

“All authorities involved in the localization of contamination are investigating the causes of possible repeated organic contamination”– the ministry writes.

At the same time, as of September 17, the water quality at water intake sites on the Desna River in Kyiv Oblast is within normal limits.

In the water intake point of the city of Brovary, an improvement in chemical oxygen consumption is also recorded: it decreased from 33.2 to 27.12 milligrams per dm³, with a norm of 30 milligrams per dm³. Dissolved oxygen is at the level of 5.5 milligrams per dm³.

At the water intake point of the city of Kyiv, there is a slight deterioration in the content of chemical oxygen consumption, which has increased to 39 milligrams per dm³ against the norm of 30 milligrams per dm³.

The oxygen regime is normal and is 5.44 milligrams per dm³. There are no risks for water intakeemphasizes the Ministry of Environment.

The pollution that moves along the Desna riverbed is less concentrated than it was at the beginning in the Seim River and in the water sampling points of the Seim River in Chernihiv Oblast. Its dilution is observed.

No excesses in the content of pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals were detected. The death of fish was not detected, the darkening of the water was recorded. No excesses were recorded for ammonium nitrogen, nitrites and chlorides.

“We emphasize that according to the data of Kyivvodokanal and the estimates of scientists, the wastewater treatment facilities of Kyivvodokanal will cope with the pollution in case it reaches the water intake points.

Therefore, the quality of water in consumers’ taps will not change and will meet the requirements of State sanitary norms and rules. The only risk is a possible smell. However, to eliminate it, Kyivvodokanal prepared 120 tons of pulverized activated carbon”– assured the Ministry of Environment.

Also, the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine, the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine and Chernihiv Water and Sewerage have installed aeration units at 9 points (6 in Chernihiv Oblast and 3 in Kyiv Oblast).

They artificially saturate the water with oxygen, contributing to the acceleration of the oxidation of organic substances and helping the natural process of self-cleaning of rivers.

We will remind, recently experts found Drthe source of contamination of the Seimas and Desna, which occurred in mid-August 2024.

The Ministry of Environment reported that polluted water from the Seim River may reach Kyiv region on September 14-16, but the sewage treatment facilities “must cope” with the pollution.

The KMDA also talked about “two scenarios” regarding the potential pollution of the Dnipro.