Methodology for assessing economic damage to groundwater during hydraulic structures operation
Authors:   Ural State  Economic University, Semin Alexander , Semyachkov Alexander ,   Institute of Economics  of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of  Sciences, Pochechun Victoria ,   Institute of Economics  of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of  Sciences, Kurdyumov Alexander ,   Ural State Economic University
Published: October 2024

Introduction. The problem is that currently there are no standard indicators for the degree of groundwater contamination. As a rule, standard indicators for surface waters are taken as a criterion for assessing their pollution. However, as is known, the underground hydrosphere is a separate environment, and groundwater is a separate component of the environment. In addition, groundwater is a strategic reserve of clean fresh water for the population of the Russian Federation. Therefore, it is clear that the regulation of maximum permissible harmful effects on groundwater and maximum permissible discharges of harmful substances into groundwater bodies is currently extremely necessary. Due to the fact that there are no standard indicators, there is no economic regulation of the negative impact of economic activities on groundwater. And this impact is very significant. This has been proven by numerous long-term monitoring studies of the underground hydrosphere, which is under the influence, for example, of mining enterprises in the Urals Federal District. Materials and methods. This work uses hydrogeological (deposit groundwater regime and balance monitoring), geochemical, and geo-ecological (groundwater quality and pollution monitoring) research methods, as well as observation and statistical and cartographic data processing methods. The research is based on a large amount of accumulated data and signature fieldwork. Results and discussion. As is known, in 1998, Guidelines were developed for the development of standards for maximum permissible harmful effects on groundwater bodies and maximum permissible discharges of harmful substances into groundwater bodies. However, this technique did not find its application, either because of its imperfection, or because it was believed that groundwater is sufficiently protected from negative technogenic and anthropogenic influences, in comparison with other components of the environment and, therefore, is not regulated need. Now it is obvious that groundwater, just like other components (atmospheric air, soil, surface water) experience intense negative impact from human economic activity and they require their own standards and, of course, economic regulation of such impact. The authors of this article have significantly improved the methodology for developing standards for maximum permissible harmful effects (MPH) on groundwater bodies and maximum permissible discharges of harmful substances (MPD) into groundwater bodies. This method has been patented and on its basis, the article presents a new method for calculating economic damage to groundwater, developed and tested on the basis of our own research on two unique largest technogenic-mineral formations in the Middle and Southern Urals. Conclusion. The hydrodynamic method for calculating groundwater pollution and normatively permissible discharge underlies the methodology for assessing natural damage to groundwater from pollutants of technogenic-mineral formations. The methodology for assessing economic damage to the underground hydrosphere from sources of surface pollution is based on calculating fees for the discharge of pollutants within the limit and above the limit. Resume. Technogenic mineral formations intensively affect groundwater, which is an important resource in human life in the present and especially in the future. Therefore, their uncontrolled pollution is unacceptable, which predetermines the development of a methodology for assessing damage to groundwater. Suggestions for practical applications and directions for future research. The application of a methodology for assessing economic damage to groundwater during the operation of hydraulic structures initiates the development of effective measures for higher and more comprehensive extraction of minerals, treatment of industrial wastewater, and more careful design and construction of hydraulic structures.