Ecological issues of water resources of Ukraine and the ways of their solution

Abstract

At the current stage, one of the consequences of deterioration of ecological situation in hydroecosystems of natural and artificial origin is growing anthropogenic load, in particular, qualitative and quantitative changes in the ecological state of these ecosystems, impoverishment of their species composition, and decrease in biological productivity. The issue of conservation and rational use of water resources is becoming particularly acute for Ukraine and other countries of the world that have chosen a path of sustainable development. Provision of proper ecological state of the water resource potential is relevant for all regions of the country, where water management and hydroecological issues are deepened by a natural shortage of water resources and their uneven distribution. Pursuant to the hygienic classification of water bodies according to their degree of pollution, the most river basins can be classified as polluted and highly polluted, which do not meet the requirements of sanitary legislation for sources of drinking water. Control over the water quality of surface reservoirs shows that their ecological state is practically not improving. Improper agricultural practices, municipal, industrial and agricultural pollution of water bodies against the background of negative climate changes cause a disappearance of thousands of small rivers from the map of Ukraine, as well as loss of water content of the main water arteries of Ukraine and the degradation and destruction of water and surrounding water ecosystems. The quality of underground water also does not always meet the regulatory requirements of the State Sanitary Standards and Rules. The issue of rational water use, conservation and protection of water resources shall fall within a direct competence of local self-government bodies, publicity, who has a reliable objective information, which should be a basis for building-up a water management, concurrently with solution of issues of conservation and protection of water resources, as well as implementation of measures to explain the importance of water resources to students, youth and local population.