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Protection of Underground Hydrosphere from Man-Made Impacts: Hydrogeological Aspects of Environmental Protection in CIS Member States

SDG 6SDG 15

19 November, 10:00-13:00
Conference Hall of the Faculty of Economics

Session

Groundwater is the most valuable environmental resource. It is included in the list of the main types of strategic mineral raw materials by Order No. 2473-r of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 30.08.2022. However, the current state of the underground hydrosphere in many regions of the world causes serious justified concern. Numerous environmental risks leading to deterioration of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of groundwater must be studied and controlled both by individual states and through the joint efforts of many countries.

The Commonwealth of Independent States countries have uneven access to groundwater resources. For some countries, groundwater is the most important source of water. In recent years, the study and protection of underground hydrosphere resources have gained new momentum due to the use of groundwater not only for water supply purposes, but also to obtain valuable components, such as rare earth metals. Another important impetus for studying the state of the underground hydrosphere is climate change. It manifests differently in different regions, but in any case, it affects the state of groundwater resources. In general, the following key problems can be outlined for the CIS countries::

  • deterioration of the chemical state of groundwater resources, including widespread pollution from so-called ‘emerging pollutants’ such as microplastics, toxic organic compounds, as well as ubiquitous petroleum products and pesticides;
  • changes in the quantitative state of groundwater resources due to their intensive exploitation, as well as climate change;
  • problems of integrated management of groundwater resources.

The session will be devoted to discussing these issues. It is planned to consider optimal engineering and technological solutions for the protection of the underground hydrosphere, the most effective ways of using its resources and monitoring its condition. Modern hydrogeological research methods will be analysed, including the possibilities of using digital tools. In addition, it is planned to discuss the prospects for international scientific and technological and educational cooperation to protect and restore underground hydrosphere resources in the CIS countries.

The purpose of the session is to identify and assess the key issues in the study, assessment and regulation of the state of underground hydrosphere resources.

Figures and Facts

According to international experts, groundwater exploitation in the world covers about 50% of the need for drinking water, 20% of the need for agriculture and 40% of the needs of various industries.
In various CIS cities, the share of groundwater in drinking water supply is up to 97%.
On 12 December 2024, the Cooperation Development Programme in Study, Use, Protection and Monitoring of Groundwater for CIS Member States until 2030, along with the Road Map for its implementation, was adopted by the decision of the Council of CIS Heads of Government.
Up to 35–38% of previously explored reserves of fresh groundwater in a number of CIS countries are unsuitable for drinking water supply due to intensive economic activity.

Discussion Issues

  • The role of the underground hydrosphere in providing the population and economy of the CIS countries with high-quality water resources.
  • Impact of climate change on the state of the underground hydrosphere.
  • New pollutants: types, sources, prospects for study and prevention of degradation of the quality of the underground hydrosphere in the CIS countries.
  • Hydrogeological education in the CIS countries and protection of underground hydrosphere resources from depletion and pollution.
  • Ecological rehabilitation of territories.

Programme

  • Welcoming Address of the Session Moderators
    Malis Absametov (Kazakhstan)
    Director, Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology named after U.M. Akhmedsafin; Member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan (online)
    Alexander Khaustov (Russia)
    Consulting Professor, Institute of Environmental Engineering, RUDN University
    Video message – greeting from the International Association of Hydrogeologists
    Valentina Rakhimova (Kazakhstan)
    Vice-President, International Association of Hydrogeologists
  • Topic of the report
    Methodology for Assessing the Resource Potential of Groundwater, Considering the Formation of its Chemical Composition: The Example of Organising Water Supply in Crimea Using Groundwater
    Sergey Pozdnyakov (Russia)
    Full Professor, Head of Department, Department of Hydrogeology, Lomonosov Moscow State University
    Alexey Maslov (Russia)
    Associate Professor, Department of Hydrogeology, Lomonosov Moscow State University
  • Topic of the report
    Geochemical Type of Waters and Their Interaction with Plastic Materials
    Alexander Khaustov (Russia)
    Consulting Professor, Institute of Environmental Engineering, RUDN University
  • Topic of the report
    Features of the Physicochemical Properties and Composition of Engineered Soils Used in Waste Storage at Solid Waste Landfills: Problems of Protecting the Underground Hydrosphere
    Irina Galitskaya (Russia)
    Full Professor, Head of Laboratory, Institute of Geoecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
    Elena Solomatina (Russia)
    Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Hydrogeoecology, Institute of Geoecology, Russian Academy of Sciences
    T. Malikova (Russia)
    Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Hydrogeoecology, Institute of Geoecology, Russian Academy of Sciences
  • Topic of the report
    Problems of Hydrogeoecology of Belarus (under approval)
    Mikhail Cherepanskiy (Russia)
    Full Professor, Belarusian State University (Belarus)
  • Topic of the report
    Research and Education for Kazakhstan’s Underground Hydrosphere Protection (under approval)
    Lidia Orolbaeva (Kyrgyzstan)
    Full Professor at Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov
  • Topic of the report
    Artificial Replenishment of Groundwater in the Republic of Kalmykia: Problems and Prospects
    Lyudmila Rybnikova (Russia)
    Chief Researcher at the Laboratory of Mining Ecology, Institute of Mining, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
    Petr Rybnikov (Russia)
    Head of the Laboratory of Geoinformation and Digital Technologies in Subsoil Use, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Mining, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
  • Topic of the report
    The Hydrosphere of Coal-Mining Regions: Problems and Solutions
    Nikolay Maksimovich (Russia)
    Deputy Director for Research, Natural Science Institute, Perm State National Research University
  • Topic of the report
    Under approval
    Botirjon Abdullaev (Uzbekistan)
    Professor, Member of the International Academy of Ecology and Life protection Sciences, Head of Department of Ecology and Water Resources Management, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers
  • Topic of the report
    Magnesium-Iron Double Hydroxides as Effective Sorbents of Chromate Ions
    Roman Golubev (Belarus)
    Postgraduate Student, Department of Human Ecology and Bioelementology, Institute of Environmental Engineering, RUDN University
  • Topic of the report
    ‘New Pollutants’ in Groundwater of Kazakhstan
    Kalamkas Koshpanova (Kazakhstan)
    PhD student, Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology named after U.M. Akhmedsafin; PhD Student, RUDN University
  • Reports by Competition Winners
  • Questions, Answers, Summing up