The Fauna of Different Drinking Water Sources of Bhagalpur,India

In three drinking water sources i. e. river, well and filter water, there were detected 50 taxa of animals: 10 amoebae and 2 ciliates (protozoa), 24 rotifera, 5 cladocerans, and 9 copepods. Chief components of the rotifers population were Brachionus and Keratella, although K. cochlearis is the most common form at all the sites. The presence of Entamoeba histolytica in well water was indicative of faecal contamination which may become a causative agent of amoebiasis in human beings.     

Cryptosporidium Oocysts in Drinking Water Supply of Chennai City,Southern India

Cryptosporidium is an enteric parasitic protozoan capable of causing chronic diarrhea. One of the most common modes of transmission is through faeces‐contaminated water. This study determines the distribution of Cryptosporidium oocysts for the first time in Chennai City's drinking water supply. 199 drinking water samples were collected from ten zones of the city. In the water samples Cryptosporidium, a common pathogenic protozoan of the gastrointestinal tract, has been analyzed physico chemically as well as microbiologically for heterotrophic organisms and total coliforms (TC). The studies revealed that three zones of the city were highly contaminated with coliforms and parasitic protozoa. A statistical analysis was done to find any correlation between heterotrophic organisms, total coliforms, and oocysts. Even though a positive correlation exists between oocysts and bacteriological parameters, a regression equation shows that heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and total coliforms were only 20% responsible for the presence of oocysts. The level of Cryptosporidium oocysts isolated from the water samples may present a public health hazard although no major outbreaks have so far been reported in Chennai City. Routine surveillance of water quality throughout the city is needed to curb the pollutants.     

Detection of Cyanobacterial Toxins in Water Supply Sources and Tap Water in Some Russian Cities: Searching Producers and Testing Removal Methods

Water Resources - For the first time, data are given on cyanobacterial toxins entering tap water, supplied to the population of some cities in Yaroslavl oblast. The detection of microcystins with...     

Some Problems of Reducing the Pollution of Water Bodies from Diffuse Sources

Water Resources - The role of diffuse pollution of water bodies in the formation of water quality in them is characterized. Some features of diffuse pollution, which are of importance for managing...     

Grey Water Footprint Assessment from the Perspective of Water Pollution Sources: A Case Study of China

Water Resources - With the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, the water crisis is becoming more severe and may threaten the future of sustainable development. Assessing grey water...     

Purification of Drinking Water (Municipal Water Supply) by Activated Charcoal,Potassium Permanganate and Silica Gel Beds Vis a vis to Bleaching Powder and Its Effects on Fish Life

A novel method has been developed to purify the municipal water. A pH of 7.05 has been achieved, which is suitable for the drinking purpose. Heavy metal, Pb²+ ions, have been removed to the extent of 0.074 mg/l. This purified water also saves the life of fishes. At the same time the use of bleaching powder in purifying municipal water has been avoided due to its hazardous effect even on fishes.     

Long-term Dynamics of the River Water Quality in the Northern Dvina Basin (Northwestern Russia)

Water Resources - Data on river water quality and pollution level have been analyzed to show that the Northern Dvina basin water is characterized by class 3 quality (categories 3А and 3B,...     

Temperature Decrease in the Surface Water Layer of a Reservoir as an Example of Environmental Thermal Pollution

Based on the results of experiments carried out in the Black Sea and Desnogorsk Reservoir, it is shown that the anthropogenic decrease in the temperature of water medium adversely affects the living organisms. This impact is proposed to be regarded as a case of thermal pollution.     

History of the Sole Source Aquifer Program: A Community-Based Approach for Protecting Aquifers Used for Drinking Water Supply

The Sole Source Aquifer Program has helped prevent contamination of many community drinking water supplies. If an aquifer supplies the sole or principal source of a community's drinking water, a local ground water user may petition the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Safe Drinking Water Act for its designation and protection as a "sole source aquifer." Since 1974, residents and officials of 65 communities and multi-community areas have petitioned and received assistance from the EPA to prevent contamination of their local ground water source of drinking water. This designation means that EPA may review federal financially assisted projects to determine if they would contaminate the aquifer and cause a public health hazard. If they could cause contamination, EPA can request that the project be modified or stopped. The significance of this program in terms of population served and funds affected has been substantial, indicating the Sole Source Aquifer Program has been an important local tool for protecting ground water used as a source of drinking water. Information is given on three different examples of sole source aquifer designations protected under this program: the New Jersey Coastal Plain Aquifer System, the Great Miami River Buried Valley Aquifer System (Ohio), and the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer (Idaho), serving populations of 543,000, 921,000, and 275,000, respectively. In all three examples, preventing ground water contamination through the Sole Source Aquifer Program has protected the community drinking water supply.     

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) as a Sum Parameter of Water Pollution in Selected Polish Rivers (Vistula,Odra, and Warta)

This paper reports on total organic carbon (TOC) and its fractions dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) studied in different Polish rivers. The samples investigated came from the Vistula, Odra, and Warta rivers, and were compared with similar data on river waters available in the literature. The DOC concentrations ranged from 10.0 to 14.2 mg/L and did not vary during the vegetative season. The POC values considerably increased from May through September and reached a maximum in summer. Results for the years 1991τ1996 evidenced a significant increase in the POC value for the Polish rivers from 10.8 to 24.5 mg/L, in comparison with analogous values for West European rivers and North American ones. The enhanced values of TOC and POC were interpreted as being due to anthropogenic pollution.     

Denitrification and Pesticide Elimination in Drinking Water Treatment with the Biodegradable Polymer Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL)

A combination of denitrification and pesticide sorption with the biodegradable polymer poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) was examined. The function of PCL is to act as carbon source and carrier for the bacteria and simultaneously as sorbent for the pesticide endosulfan. In a short‐term examination (1 month) the addition of the pesticide endosulfan to a continuous‐flow fixed‐bed reactor resulted in an inhibition of biomass production without reduction of the denitrification performance. However in a long‐term semi‐batch reactor test (6 months) biomass production and partly denitrification rates were affected. No significant differences in microbial composition between the reactors were observed. Regardless of the type of reactor or presence of endosulfan, Acidovorax facilis was the main constituent.     

Comparative Analysis of Hepatic Biomarkers of Black Scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758 from Sevastopol Water Areas (the Black Sea) with Different Pollution Levels

Water Resources - Comparative analysis was carried out for some biochemical characteristics of the liver of Black Scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758, from Sevastopol water areas (the...     

Water management complex of Russia: Concept,state of the art,and problems

The structure of the water management complex of the Russian Federation is discussed. The main features showing the degree of meeting the demands for water in different spheres of economic activities are presented. The tendencies for variations in volumes of water use are revealed in housing facilities and public utilities, manufacturing and extractive branches of industry, electric power engineering, and agriculture. The article shows the present condition of fishery in inland water bodies, river craft and the infrastructure of inland water and aquatic water transport, and recreation.     

To the Problem of Bioindication of Oil Pollution of Freshwater Limnic Ecosystems Using Zooplankton on the Example of Lake Samotlor (KhMAO)

Water Resources - It is shown that the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons in water may have both a depressing and a stimulating effect on the development of certain species of zooplankton. The...     

Occurrence of the mollusc species Euglesa globularis (Clessin, 1873) in North-East Asia (Magadan,Russia) with data on dispersal mechanism and vectors

The information concerning the origin, biogeography and dispersal mechanisms of sphaeriid species in the Holarctic region is very limited. In this study, we report on the first occurrence of Euglesa globularis in the Magadan Oblast. According to our molecular data, 16S RNA sequences of E. globularis are represented by two haplotypes, one of which is identical with the samples that were collected in North America. Our findings highlight the possible exchange between the freshwater biotas of North-West Asia and the West of North America in Beringia during the Pleistocene. Furthermore, we describe the first case of bivalve mollusk E. globularis attached to toes of the amphibian species Salamandrella keyserlingii. According to our data, S. keyserlingii could play a minor role in the dispersal of bivalves at the local scale.     

Large debris avalanches and associated eruptions in the Holocene eruptive history of Shiveluch Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia

 Shiveluch Volcano, located in the Central Kamchatka Depression, has experienced multiple flank failures during its lifetime, most recently in 1964. The overlapping deposits of at least 13 large Holocene debris avalanches cover an area of approximately 200 km² of the southern sector of the volcano. Deposits of two debris avalanches associated with flank extrusive domes are, in addition, located on its western slope. The maximum travel distance of individual Holocene avalanches exceeds 20 km, and their volumes reach ∼3 km³. The deposits of most avalanches typically have a hummocky surface, are poorly sorted and graded, and contain angular heterogeneous rock fragments of various sizes surrounded by coarse to fine matrix. The deposits differ in color, indicating different sources on the edifice. Tephrochronological and radiocarbon dating of the avalanches shows that the first large Holocene avalanches were emplaced approximately 4530–4350 BC. From ∼2490 BC at least 13 avalanches occurred after intervals of 30–900 years. Six large avalanches were emplaced between 120 and 970 AD, with recurrence intervals of 30–340 years. All the debris avalanches were followed by eruptions that produced various types of pyroclastic deposits. Features of some surge deposits suggest that they might have originated as a result of directed blasts triggered by rockslides. Most avalanche deposits are composed of fresh andesitic rocks of extrusive domes, so the avalanches might have resulted from the high magma supply rate and the repetitive formation of the domes. No trace of the 1854 summit failure mentioned in historical records has been found beyond 8 km from the crater; perhaps witnesses exaggerated or misinterpreted the events. Received: 18 August 1997 / Accepted: 19 December 1997     

Production of Pondweeds (Potamogeton,Stuckenia, Potamogetonaceae) in Rivers in the North of European Russia

Water Resources - For the first time, summarized data on the production of nine species and ten hybrids of pondweed (Potamogeton, Stuckenia, Potamogetonaceae) are given for ecosystems of small and...     

Magnetic,paleomagnetic and palynologic studies of Paleolithic depositions of the Akhshtyrskaya cave (Russia)

The paper presents the results of experimental rock-magnetic, paleomagnetic and palynologic study of Paleolithic sediments sampled along two profiles in the Akhshtyrskaya cave, situated in the vicinity of Black Sea shore. In the upper part of profiles, some magnetite was observed; in the middle and lower parts, strongly oxidized non-stoichiometric magnetite and hematite prevail. Thin maghemite covers on the surface of fine magnetite grains are present in the majority of specimens. Natural remanence has one characteristic component (CHRM), mostly of chemical origin, although in few specimens containing magnetite it may be sedimentary. Directions of CHRM obtained by standard paleomagnetic methods revealed anomalous pattern only in layer 3/2, which is slightly older than the overlying layer 3/1 whose age was established as (35±2)×10³ years BP by the U-Th method. This suggests that this paleomagnetic anomaly (PMA) can be correlated with Kargapolovo excursion dated on about (45−39)×10³ years BP. In the remaining overlying and underlying layers, directions of CHRM are grouped around the present geomagnetic field. Depth distributions of scalar magnetic parameters generally coincide with the lithological division of the profiles. Palynologic study revealed the presence of 22 pollen zones. Five thermomers separated with colder periods were found in the middle and lower parts of profile. The non-magnetite composition of magnetic fraction of the majority of studied sediments — oxidized nonstoichiometric magnetite and hematite — resulted in the lack of correlations between paleoclimatic and scalar magnetic characteristics.