European Union Water Initiative Plus for the Eastern Partnership Countries (EUWI+)

Result 2

TRANSBOUNDARY SUB PARTS OF GROUNDWATER BODIES IN THE AND RIVER BASIN OF THE REPUBLIC OF

Final report, December 2020

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Beneficiaries

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus Responsible EU member state consortium EUWI+ project leader

Mr Alexander Zinke, Umweltbundesamt GmbH (AT) EUWI+ country representative in Belarus

Mr Alexandr Stankevich Responsible international thematic lead expert

Mr Andreas Scheidleder, Umweltbundesamt (AT) Responsible national thematic lead expert

Ms Olga Vasneva, “The Institute of Geology” branch of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Research and Production Center for Geology”

Authors

Ms Olga Berezko, Ms Olga Vasneva, Ms Elena Cherevach, Ms Olga Buinevich, Ms Tatiana Kononova, Mr Igor Vitsen, all “The Institute of Geology” branch of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Research and Pro- duction Center for Geology"

Disclaimer:

The EU-funded program European Union Water Initiative Plus for Eastern Partnership Countries (EUWI+) is im- plemented by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), both responsible for the implementation of Result 1, and an EU Mem- ber States Consortium comprising the Environment Agency Austria (UBA, Austria), the lead coordinator, and the International Office for Water (IOW, France), both responsible for the implementation of Results 2 and 3. The program is co-funded by Austria and France through the Austrian Development Agency and the French Artois-Picardie Water Agency.

This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union or of the Governments of the Eastern Partnership Countries.

This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of, or sovereignty over, any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries, and to the name of any territory, city or area.

Imprint

Owner and Editor: EU Member State Consortium Umweltbundesamt GmbH Office International de l’Eau (IOW) Spittelauer Lände 5 21/23 rue de Madrid 1090 Vienna, Austria 75008 Paris, France

Responsible IOW Communication officer: Ms Chloé Déchelette [email protected]

December2020

2 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

CONTENTS

1 Executive summary ...... 9 2 Introduction ...... 10 3 Applied approach and research methodologies ...... 11 4 Transboundary GWBs in the Dnieper River Basin – Identification and Characterisation ...... 14 4.1 General information about the Dnieper river basin ...... 14 4.1.1 Geological and hydrogeological conditions ...... 15 4.1.2 Significant ecosystems ...... 17 4.1.3 Anthropogenic impacts ...... 17 4.2 Characteristics of the transboundary GWBs in the Dnieper river basin and the corresponding GWBs in ...... 19 4.2.1 Groundwater body BYDNGW0001...... 21 4.2.2 Groundwater body BYDNGW0002...... 22 4.2.3 Groundwater body BYDNGW0003...... 23 4.2.4 Groundwater body BYDNGW004...... 24 4.2.5 Groundwater body BYDNGW005...... 25 5 Identification and characterization of the transboundary sub-parts of GWBs in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins in Belarus ...... 27 5.1 Basis and criteria for the identification ...... 27 5.2 Characteristics of the transboundary sub-parts of GWBs in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins in Belarus ...... 28 5.2.1 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0001 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0001 (Dnieper river)...... 30 5.2.2 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0002 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0002 (Dnieper river)...... 32 5.2.3 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0005 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0003 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river) ...... 35 5.2.4 Transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies BYPRGW0006 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0004 (Dnieper river) ...... 37 5.2.5 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0007 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0005 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river) ...... 40 5.2.6 Transboundary sub-part of the BYPRGW0009 groundwater body (Pripyat river) ...... 43 6 Existing Groundwater monitoring network ...... 45 6.1 Existing monitoring network of the transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0001 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0001 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river) ...... 56 6.2 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0002 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0002 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies ...... 57 6.3 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0005 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0003 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies ...... 59

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

6.4 Transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0006 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0004 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies ...... 60 6.5 Transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0007 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0005 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies ...... 61 6.6 Transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0009 (the Pripyat river) ...... 63 7 Proposed Groundwater monitoring network and data exchange ...... 64 7.1 Proposed new monitoring sites ...... 64 7.2 General organizational issues of groundwater monitoring in the transboundary territory of Belarus and Ukraine ...... 69 7.3 Observation frequency and parameters ...... 69 7.4 Proposed monitoring data exchange template ...... 70 8 Outputs and lessons learned ...... 72 8.1 Outputs ...... 72 8.2 Lessons learned ...... 74 9 References ...... 76

4 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

List of Tables Table 1: Fresh groundwater resources in the Dnieper basin (according to data for 2017)...... 16 Table 2: List of delineated transboundary GWBs in the Dnieper river basin in Belarus ...... 20 Table 3: Comparison of joint transboundary GWBs in the territory of Belarus and Ukraine ...... 20 Table 4: Transboundary sub-parts of GWBs in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basin in Belarus ...... 28 Table 5: Types of anthropogenic pressures on fresh groundwater of the transboundary subparts of GWBs in the Pripyat and Dnieper river basin in Belarus ...... 29 Table 6: Statistical data on hydrogeological stations on transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat river basin in Belarus...... 46 Table 7: Statistical data on water intakes in transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat river basins in Belarus ...... 46 Table 8: Statistical data on hydrogeological posts on transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Dnieper river basin...... 47 Table 9: Statistical data on water intakes in transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Dnieper river basin ...... 47 Table 15: Joint transboundary GWBs in the territory of Belarus and Ukraine ...... 72

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Abbreviations ADA ...... Austrian Development Agency DoA ...... Description of Action DG NEAR ...... Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission EaP ...... Eastern Partnership EC ...... European Commission EECCA ...... Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia EMBLAS ...... Environmental Monitoring in the EPIRB ...... Environmental Protection of International River Basins ESCS ...... Ecological Status Classification Systems EU ...... European Union EU-MS ...... EU-Member States EUWI+ ...... European Union Water Initiative Plus FD ...... Floods Directive GEF ...... Global Environmental Fund ICPDR ...... International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River INBO ...... International Network of Basin Organisations IOWater/OIEau ..... International Office for Water, France IWRM ...... Integrated Water Resources Management MSFD ...... Marine Strategy Framework Directive NESB ...... National Executive Steering Board NFP ...... National Focal Point NGOs ...... Non-Governmental Organisations NPD ...... National Policy Dialogue OECD ...... Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development RBC ...... River Basin Council RBD ...... River Basin District RBMP ...... River Basin Management Plan RBO ...... River Basin Organisation ROM ...... Result Oriented Monitoring SCM ...... Steering Committee Meeting (of the EU Action EUWI+) SEIS ...... Shared environmental information system TA ...... Technical Assistance ToR ...... Terms of References UBA ...... Umweltbundesamt GmbH, Environment Agency Austria UNDP ...... United Nations Development Programme UNECE ...... United Nations Economic Commission for Europe WISE ...... Water Information System for Europe WFD ...... Water Framework Directive

6 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Country Specific Abbreviations Belarus BIEE ...... Branch «Belarussian integrated exploration expedition» of the State Enter- prise „RPCG“ ChNPP ...... Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Council of Ministers ...... Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus GIS ...... Geo-information system GWB ...... Groundwater body IAC GM ...... Informational and Analytical Center for Groundwater Monitoring of the Branch „Institute of Geology“ Institute of Geology ...... Branch "Institute of Geology" of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Research and Production Center for Geology" MPC ...... Maximum Permissible Concentration NEMS ...... National Environmental Monitoring System RB ...... Republic of Belarus PR ...... Pesticide residues RCAC ...... State Enterprise „Republican Center of Analytical Control in the field of envi- ronmental protection“ of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Belarus. RUE «BelNITS ECOLOGIYA» .... Republican Research Unitary Enterprise „BelNITS „Ecologiya““ Ministry of Natural Resources ..... Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus SWC ...... State Water Cadastre

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The “European Union Water Initiative Plus for Eastern Partnership (EaP) Countries (EUWI+)” in- volves six eastern neighbours of the EU: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The EUWI+ project addresses existing challenges in both development and implementation of efficient management of water resources and in particular the water monitoring capacities. It spe- cifically supports the EaP countries to move towards the approximation to EU acquits in the field of water management as identified by the EU Water Framework Directive A recent study established in 2019 identified six groundwater bodies in the Pripyat River Basin of the Republic of Belarus which are transboundary linked with corresponding groundwater bodies in the Dnieper River Basin of Ukraine. As some of the groundwater bodies are considerably large, this study goes a step further and identifies those sub parts of the groundwater bodies in Belarus which are subject to transboundary groundwater interaction. The following aspects are covered by this study: - the identification of the relevant sub parts of the transboundary groundwater bodies which are supposed to be dynamically linked; - the identification of the main anthropogenic pressures posing impacts on groundwater quality and quantity; - the assessment of the existing groundwater quantity and quality monitoring network towards rep- resentativeness and proposals for improvements towards a transboundary groundwater monitor- ing network; - proposals on the monitoring frequency, the parameters and a data exchange template; and - the preparation of GIS maps displaying all sub parts of groundwater bodies in Belarus and their groundwater monitoring networks (existing and proposed monitoring sites). All aspects of the work have been carried out in close cooperation with the groundwater experts in Ukraine responsible for the delineation of groundwater bodies. A similar work, done in parallel in Ukraine, is identifying the corresponding sub parts of the transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnieper River Basin District of Ukraine.

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

2 INTRODUCTION

In 2018, groundwater bodies in the Pripyat River basin of the Republic of Belarus have been delineat- ed and characterized and the groundwater quantity and quality monitoring design has been assessed, both according to the provisions of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) under the EUWI+ project. In a further study in 2019, all groundwater bodies were identified, which are transboundary connected with corresponding groundwater bodies of Ukraine. This study was elaborated in close cooperation with the groundwater experts in Ukraine, which are responsible for the identification of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper River Basin. The results of the 2019 study revealed, that several groundwater bodies, which were identified as transboundary, are considerably large and not all of the groundwater within these groundwater bodies is subject to transboundary interconnection. Hence, it was necessary to have a closer look at these large groundwater bodies and identify those sub parts which are subject to transboundary influence. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were performed:  transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin of the Republic of Belarus were identified, associated with groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin of Ukraine; new codes: BYDNGW0001, etc. have been assigned to the transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnie- per river basin of the Republic of Belarus;  parts of the identified transboundary groundwater bodies in the Pripyat river basin and in the Dnieper river basin, which are located on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, which can ac- tually interact in a transboundary manner, were determined;

 transboundary active parts of groundwater bodies were characterized in detail and displayed on GIS maps;

 transboundary groundwater monitoring network were proposed that would be representative of the identified parts of transboundary groundwater bodies;

 coordinated activities for monitoring and information exchange between the two countries and a template for data and information exchange were proposed; All aspect of this study were performed in close cooperation with groundwater experts in Ukraine re- sponsible for the delineation of groundwater bodies

10 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

3 APPLIED APPROACH AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

This work under Part 1 of the contract (transboundary sub-parts) is based on the delineation of groundwater bodies, which was completed in 2018, and the identification of transboundary groundwa- ter bodies with Ukraine, which was done in 2019. On the basis of the results of the work performed in 2018–19 some of the identified transboundary groundwater bodies in both countries (Belarus and Ukraine) were significant in size. However, only some parts of these transboundary groundwater bodies are subject to transboundary interactions caused by constraints due to the combination of hydrogeological properties and distance from the country's border. Some of the transboundary groundwater bodies are identified as a group of separate groundwater bodies, which are located far from the border of the Republic of Belarus. This study was aimed at localizing those parts of existing groundwater bodies that can interact in a transboundary manner, as well as developing transboundary groundwater monitoring and data ex- change. The implementation of this study focuses on transboundary harmonization with Ukraine. Simi- lar work has been done in Ukraine. Review of literature and materials that were used The implementation methodology was based on the provisions of the WFD and methodologies pre- sented in the following regulatory documents:

 CIS Guidance document No. 2 “Identification of water bodies”;  CIS Guidance document No. 15 "Groundwater monitoring";  CIS Technical report No. 2 "Groundwater characteristics";  CIS Technical report No. 3 "Groundwater monitoring";

Research methodology Experts of the State Enterprise "Research and Production Center for Geology" of the branch "The Institute of Geology" within the framework of this project carried out the following steps of research: 1. Identification and characterization of the identified transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin and the corresponding GWB in Ukraine. 2. Identification and characterization of transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins in Belarus. 3. Description of the existing monitoring network to identify the quantity and quality of groundwa- ter in transboundary sub-parts. 4. Development of a proposed monitoring network (monitoring sites, frequency, parameters) and a proposed monitoring data exchange template. 5. Development of a set of GIS maps with the identified transboundary sub-parts of water bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins. 6. Development of a set of GIS maps with the existing and proposed groundwater monitoring network for the territory of transboundary sub-parts of water bodies of the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins. 7. Cooperation with Ukrainian experts.

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

1. Identification and characterization of the identified transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin and the corresponding GWB in Ukraine. To identify and further characterize transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin, we analyzed the general information about the territory of the Dnieper river basin. Information on previ- ously conducted research work, including in the framework of international projects, as well as data from geological and hydrogeological surveys, prospecting and exploration work on water, case studies and the publication of a series of hydrogeological maps were collected and systematized. As a result of the work carried out, 6 transboundary groundwater bodies were identified in the Dnieper river basin on the territory of Belarus and the corresponding GWB in Ukraine. A hydrogeological char- acteristic was given and maps of the distribution of each identified transboundary water body of the Dnieper river were compiled. New codes: BYDNGW0001, BYDNGW0002, BYDNGW0003, BYDNGW0004, BYDNGW0005 have been assigned to all transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin of the Republic of Belarus. 2. Identification and characterization of transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins in Belarus. When performing the study, we used:  work results obtained within the framework of the EUWI + project "Identification and characteri- zation of groundwater bodies and design of a groundwater monitoring network in the Pripyat river basin in Belarus" (February 2019).  results obtained under the EUWI + project “Identification and delineation of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin in Ukraine” (February 2019);  discussions held at the working meeting between Belarus and Ukraine in December 2019 in Ki- ev.  the latest results developed under the EUWI + project on transboundary coordination with Ukraine in 2019/2020. To identify and characterize the transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat basin, we used the main criterion: we identified transboundary corridors in the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins at a distance of 50–55 km from the state border. As a result of the performed studies, transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins were identified. In the river basin Pripyat, their number coincides with the pre- viously identified transboundary water bodies - 6. In the Dnieper river basin 5 transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies have been identified. The categorization of technogenic objects (loads) of transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies by the nature of the impact on fresh groundwater of the Pripyat and Dnieper was carried out. A de- tailed description of each groundwater body of transboundary sub-parts in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins is given according to the following criteria: hydrogeological parameters, chemical ground- water composition, groundwater recharge, groundwater use, main anthropogenic pressures, the most significant ecosystems and the existing monitoring network.

3. Description of the existing monitoring network to identify the of groundwater quantity and quality in transboundary sub-parts. As part of this project, information was collected and analyzed on the existing groundwater monitoring network of transboundary sub-parts of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins. It was found that the monitoring network is located unevenly in relation to the area of each groundwater body. In some wa- ter bodies, the number of monitoring wells is extremely insufficient to perform an analysis of the status of groundwater quality and quantity within the transboundary sub-parts.

12 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

A brief description of the existing monitoring network for determining the groundwater quantity and quality in the transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper basins for each water body was given. Information on the number of operating and conserved posts, water intakes, local monitoring objects, as well as statistical data on the number of wells, where monitoring observations of the quality and level regime of groundwater are carried out, was provided.

4. Development of a proposed monitoring network (monitoring sites, frequency, parameters) and a proposed monitoring data exchange template. The reorganized groundwater monitoring network should include the already existing monitoring infra- structure and new monitoring wells. It was proposed to drill 9 wells (7 wells in the Pripyat river basin and 2 wells in the Dnieper river basin). It was also recommended to continue monitoring studies at the existing operating observation points and observation points surveyed (equipped) within the framework of the project in 2019. General organizational issues of groundwater monitoring in the transboundary territory of Belarus and Ukraine in accordance with the current Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Bela- rus and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the joint use and protection of transboundary waters were presented. A list of hydrochemical and hydrogeological indicators for observing the state of transboundary groundwater bodies, as well as a template for the exchange of monitoring data, was provided.

5. Development of a set of GIS maps with the identified transboundary sub-parts of water bod- ies in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins. A set of maps with identified transboundary sub-parts of water bodies of the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins was created in GIS format. The maps show the boundaries of the distribution of transboundary sub-parts of water bodies in the 50–55 km zone from the border with Ukraine.

6. Development of a set of GIS maps with the existing and proposed groundwater monitoring network for the territory of transboundary sub-parts of water bodies of the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins. In the GIS format, sets of maps were created showing the existing and proposed network for monitor- ing groundwater on the territory of transboundary sub-parts of water bodies of the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins. Observation points in the areas of hydrogeological posts, water intakes and objects of local monitoring of groundwater are marked on the maps.

7. Cooperation with Ukrainian experts. All works were carried out in close cooperation with Ukrainian experts.

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

4 TRANSBOUNDARY GWBS IN THE DNIEPER RIVER BASIN – IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISATION

4.1 General information about the Dnieper river basin

The Dnieper river basin covers the central, eastern and southeastern parts of the territory of the Re- public of Belarus. This territory is characterized by the presence of significant volumes of natural re- sources (various types of minerals, land, water and forest resources), has significant industrial poten- tial and is one of the highly developed industrial . Administrative division: There are large regional and industrial centers, as well as a large number of small and medium urban settlements, which are part of 46 districts of four administrative regions of the Republic of Belarus (Minsk, Vitebsk, and Gomel regions). The Dnieper river is the largest river in terms of size and water content that flows through the territory of Belarus. Its source is located on the territory of the Russian Federation on the Valdai Upland. It flows into the Dnieper-Bug estuary of the Black Sea (Ukraine).In Belarus the Dnieper river flows through the territory of the Vitebsk, Gomel and Mogilev regions. The largest part of the catchment area of the basin (57.3%) is located within Ukraine (291,400 km2) and 22.9% are located in the Republic of Belarus (116,400 km2) [8]. Geomorphology and relief: In geomorphological terms, the Dnieper river basin is confined to the Central Berezinskaya water-glacial plain.The relief of the territory is flat and hilly. The most elevated northern part is a complex system of large hilly moraine uplands (Orshanskaya, Minskaya), alternating with slightly incurved, often swampy lowlands and highly dissected plateau-like areas. The relative heights of individual hills vary from 30–50 to 120 m.The central part, covering the catchments of the and rivers, is predominantly flat, in places there are undulating and shallow areas of the bottom moraine with relative heights of 5–30 m. The left bank of the Dnieper river up to the city of Zhlobin is strongly dissected by valleys, ravines, gullies and is raised relative to the right bank by 40–60 m. The southern part of the catchment of the Dnieper river is connected with dune-hilly sandy formations 5–8 m high and separate strongly eroded moraine hills, hills and ridges up to 10–60 m high above the surrounding terrain. The total length of the Dnieper river is about 2,200 km; 690 km in Belarus. The width of the valley ranges from 0.5–1.5 km up to 35 km. The depth of the incision reaches 70–80 m (in the area of Ors- ha). Above Orsha, the riverbed is cataracted, cut into the rocks of the complex. In the valley, there is a floodplain of two levels (0.5–1.5 m and 2–5 m) and two terraces above the floodplain with a height of 5–6 m to 8–12 m and from 12–14 m to 29–22 m, respectively. Within the borders of Belarus, the valley is mostly trapezoidal. In the southern part it is inexpressive. The width of the valley up to the city of Mogilev is 0.8–3.0 km; below (to the mouth of the Sozh river) it is 5–10 km; within the boundaries of the Polesye lowland it merges with the adjacent terrain. The slopes of the valley are moderately steep and gentle, 12–35 m high, cut by ravines, hollows, valleys of tributaries. The floodplain along a considerable distance from Mogilev is a two-sided terrace, which rises at the low-water level by 5–8 m. Its width is 0.1–1.0 km. From Mogilev to Zhlobin, it expands to 6 km, to the south - within the boundaries of the Gomel Polesye - up to 10 km. The surface of the floodplain below the city of Mogilev is crossed by oxbows, branches, channels and bays, mostly open and plowed up. There are elevated ridged areas, sandy hills and riverbanks. The channel is very wind-

14 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

ing over a long distance, rich in rifts and shoals. 9 km above the city of Orsha, the river cuts through a ridge of Devonian limestones, forms Kobelyatsky rapids near the village of Pridneprovie [6] The width of the river varies from 60–120 m in the to 0.8–1.5 km in the Gomel Polesye. The bottom is flat, sandy, and sometimes sandy and gravel. The banks are from gentle to steep, on bends are destroyed, from 0.5 m to 10 m in height; coastal defenses have been created in some plac- es. The main flow of the river is formed in the upper course. The main source of feeding is snow water (about 50% in the upper course). Groundwater accounts for 27%, rainwater for 23% of the annual runoff. The spring flood usually takes place in one, in some years by two or three waves. The average height above the lowest low-water level near Orsha is 5.9 m, Mogilev 6.2 m, Rechitsa 4 m. The height of the highest level is 4–7 m. In the upper reaches, where the floodplain is narrow, it is up to 12 m. The river Dnieper freezes in late November - early December. Ice drift in the middle course in late March to early April. The greatest ice thickness is 60–80 cm (in early March). The largest tributaries of the Dnieper in Belarus are rivers Drut, Berezina and Sozh. Of all the tributar- ies the Drut river 'has the shortest length (295 km), twice the length of the Berezina river. The right tributary of the Berezina river is the Svisloch river, the left is the Bobr river. The Sozh River is 493 km long. Its large tributaries are rivers Besed‘, Iput and Pronya. There are few lakes in the catchment area. They are located mainly in the southern part of the catch- ment area. These are small overgrown water bodies with a surface area of up to 3–4 km2 (Lake Plavno, Olshitsa, Medzozol, Sergeevichskoe, Orekhovskoe, etc.) [9]. Demographic situation: The area and location of the Dnieper River basin determined the demo- graphic structure and population size of the basin. The largest area of the Dnieper basin and the con- centration of large industrial and settlements here determined the highest population density in the republic (73.63 people per km2). At the same time, the highest population density is in the Minsk re- gion with 185.01 people per km2.Currently, the population of this territory is about 4.8 million people. 80% of them live in cities and urban settlements.

4.1.1 Geological and hydrogeological conditions

The territory of the Dnieper basin covers a number of large geological structures of the first order, which are isolated hydrogeological regions. They differ from each other in thickness and age of sedi- mentary deposits, their lithological composition and bedding conditions. Together with the difference in climatic and oro-hydrographic conditions of different parts of the basin, these factors determine the patterns of distribution and formation of groundwater, the nature of their movement, pressure, re- sources, quality and conditions of their operation [1]. The hydrogeological conditions of the Dnieper basin within Belarus are determined by its geological and tectonic structure. According to hydrogeological features, two artesian basins were identified: the Moscow (Orsha in Belarus) and the Dnieper (Pripyat), as well as small areas of the Baltic (in the ex- treme west-northwest) and Dnieper (in the extreme southeast and south) artesian basins. The bound- aries and marginal parts of artesian basins are confined to the vaulted parts and slopes of positive tectonic structures of the crystalline basement: Belarussian and Voronezh anteclises, Zhlobin and Bragin-Loev saddles, Bobruisk ledge. The Orsha artesian basin is the western part of the Moscow mega basin. It occupies the northern and northeastern part of the Dnieper basin within Belarus. The thickness of sedimentary rocks reaches 1500–1700 m. The zone of active water exchange reaches a thickness of 300–350 m, decreasing to 200 m towards the Zhlobin saddle. In the zone of active water exchange, there are aquifers of Quater- nary, , Upper-Middle Devonian and Upper deposits (within the Belorussian

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

anteclise). The greatest thickness of sedimentary rocks within the basin is 6,200 m. The zone of active water exchange extends to a depth of 200–300 m. It includes aquifers of , , Paleogene, Cretaceous, Devonian, and within the Belorussian anteclise - Upper Proterozoic sedi- ments ( Figure 1).

Figure 1: Geological section of the Dnieper river basin [6]

The Pripyat artesian basin is confined to the eastern part of the Pripyat trough. The greatest thickness of sedimentary rocks within the basin is 6,200 m. The zone of active water exchange extends to a depth of 200-300 m. It includes aquifers of Quaternary, Neogene, Paleogene, Cretaceous, Devonian, and within the Belorussian anticlise, Upper Proterozoic sediments. The Baltic artesian basin occupies a small area in the extreme northwest. It is confined to the upper reaches of the Berezina river. In the zone of active water exchange with a thickness of up to 200 m, aquifers of the Middle Devonian and Upper Proterozoic deposits are widespread. The Dnieper artesian basin is identified in small areas in the southeast and extreme south of the Dnie- per river basin. Fresh water are confined to sediments of the Paleogene-Neogene, Cretaceous and the upper part of the horizons and complexes of the age [3, 4, 7].

Groundwater resources and reserves: One of the most important problems of life is providing the population with fresh water. On the basis of previously performed studies on the territory of Belarus (maps), the main sources of drinking water have been identified. They are groundwater confined to the Quaternary strata of rocks and to the underlying pre-Quaternary aquifers and complexes. On the basin territory, groundwater reserves have been explored and approved at 62 groundwater deposits con- fined to Quaternary aquifers, of which 35 water intake sites are in operation. Rational use of groundwater can be based on a predictive assessment of their resources, the results of which are shown in the table [8]. Table 1: Fresh groundwater resources in the Dnieper basin (according to data for 2017)

Average [l/s km2] Projected operational resources

hydraulically hydraulically not

connected to surface connected to surface

runoff runoff

year] /

River basin 3

year]

/ 3

ral resources ral 3

m [ [Miom Mio Miom /ye resources 3 % of total % of total

natu m /year ar

totalresources

naturalexplored Operationalresources Dnieper basin 1.15 1.57 18,521 25,246 11,786 46.7 13,462 53.3

16 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

4.1.2 Significant ecosystems

The most significant ecosystems of the studied transboundary territory include: swamps, forests, na- ture reserves. Swamps have predominantly lowland type. They are open, largely drained and developed. The great- est distribution and sizes reach in Polesye, where they are known as "gali". In the rest of the catch- ment area, they are found in small spots among forests. Swampiness is about 20%, including 11% swampy forests. In the Belarusian part of the Dnieper river forests occupy 5.7 million hectares, or 48.6% of the total area. 4.6 million hectares of this area is a forested area with a total stock of wood species amounting to 799.4 million m3 (or 59.6% of the total reserve of the Republic of Belarus), as well as 82.5 million m3 of ripe and overripe plantings. The distribution of forests is uneven. Large forests are found on the catchments of right-bank tributar- ies (Berezina and Drut'). The left bank is much less forested. Forests are found here in relatively small areas. The largest of them are concentrated in the lower reaches of the Sozh river. Forests are mixed. Main species are pine, spruce, oak. In the northeastern part, spruce with areas of small-leaved forests prevails. In the middle pine forests prevail. In Polesye, mixed and boggy broad-leaved formations stand out against the background of pine forests. River floodplains are often covered with oak and hornbeam forests. The forest cover of the catchment is about 25%. The network of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) of the Dnieper river basin consists of 2 reserves, 18 reserves of republican significance, as well as reserves of local significance, natural monuments, etc. Due to the special conservation status, the protected areas are home to most of the ecosystems preserved in their natural state, the distribution and area of which in the Dnieper basin as a result of diversified economic activities in the last 50 years has sharply decreased. The list of the most significant ecosystems of the Dnieper basin includes: Berezinsky Biosphere Re- serve; lake-forest-swamp complex "GolubitskayaPushcha"; forest and swamp complex "Pukhovichi swamps"; floodplain complex "Dneprovsko-Sozhskiy" (reserve of republican significance); floodplain of the Dnieper River (section Zhlobin - Rechitsa); floodplain of the Sozh River (section Vetka - Chechersk); natural complexes "Upper Dnieper", "Besedsky" ("Klimovichsko-Kostyukovichsky") and "Svislochsko-Berezinsky"; forest complex "Dobrushsky". The largest area is covered by the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. The Polesye Radiation and Envi- ronmental Reserve was created after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and is located in a larger area on the territory of the Pripyat River basin and, to a lesser extent, on the territory of the Dnieper river basin. In addition, on the territory of the basin there are a large number of landscape (Vydritsa, Chernevichsky, etc.), hydrological (Zaozerye, Duleby Islands, Svisloch-Berezinsky, etc.), biological (Dnepro-Sozhsky, Kopysh, Mateevichsky, etc.) reserves. There are unique forest areas and plantations of valuable tree species (Chigirinskoye plantation of valuable tree species, Dobrush spruce forests, Veprinskaya oak grove, etc.).

4.1.3 Anthropogenic impacts

The influence of local (anthropogenic) pollution sources (agricultural, household, industrial genesis, etc.) leads to the fact that in groundwater and artesian waters there are increased indicators (some- times higher than the MPC) for pH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, total mineralization, total hardness. The most intensive source of groundwater pollution in the territory of the Dnieper river basin of the country is agricultural activity (application of mineral fertilizers, etc.), as a result of which there are increased indicators of total hardness, total mineralization, permanganate oxidizability, nitrogen com-

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

pounds in groundwater samples. Agriculture is a source of diffuse groundwater pollution. Within the territory of the Dnieper basin, about 1,353,000 head of cattle, 1,315,000 pigs, 41,000 sheep and goats, as well as 13 million chickens are fattening [8, 10]. Large industrial centers are located within the Dnieper river basin - Minsk, Mogilev, Gomel, Borisov, Bobruisk, Svetlogorsk, Zhlobin, Zhodino, Rechitsa and others, which represent numerous point sources of pollution. Although industrial and agricultural facilities are widespread within the Dnieper river basin (Figure 2), so far they have only a local negative impact on groundwater aquifers. A specific peculiarity of Belarus is soil contamination with radionuclides. More than 40,000 hectares of the territory of Belarus are contaminated with radioactive emissions as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Soils, forests, meadows and peatlands account for 50% of these con- taminated areas. The vegetation of these forests, meadows and peat bogs has absorbed and retained radioactive particles. Fortunately, the content of radionuclides in groundwater aquifers still does not exceed the norm, although traces of contamination with radionuclides are clearly recorded. At present, the content (activity) of radioactive cesium 137Cs reaches 0.2–1.0 Bq/l, and this concentration is sig- nificantly lower than the MPC (maximum permissible concentration) for drinking water (11 Bq/l), but at the same time, much higher than the natural background for unconfined groundwater [9].

Figure 2: Point pollution sources in the Dnieper basin, Belarus [6]

18 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

4.2 Characteristics of the transboundary GWBs in the Dnieper river basin and the corresponding GWBs in Ukraine

In order to identify (clarify) transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin material on previously conducted research work was collected and systematized, including in the framework of the implementation of international projects ("Identification, characterization and delimitation of groundwa- ter bodies in the Dnieper basin, Belarus", author Bernardas Paukshtis et al., EPIRB Project, 2014 [6]), including data from geological and hydrogeological surveys, prospecting and exploration work on wa- ter, case studies and the publication of a series of hydrogeological maps. To delineate and characterize transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnieper basin, we used, as in previous studies carried out on the Pripyat river basin in 2018–2019, the following main criteria. 1. The availability of a transboundary corridor of a joint transboundary water body was taken into account. 2. The geological and hydrogeological factors (feeding area, discharge, lithology of rocks) was taken into account. 3. The degree of use of the delineated GWB was taken into account. We separated high- productive aquifer from low-productive ones. We assessed the possibility of taking more than 10m3 of groundwater. 4. Anthropogenic loads influencing the groundwater quality and quantity were taken into account. 5. The boundaries of each water body were determined (by area and depth). 6. All relevant aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that are associated with water bodies were identified. As a result of the collection and analysis of the gathered and processed factual material characterizing the hydrogeological features of the Quaternary and Pre-Quaternary rock strata within the Dnieper river basin, key wells with the most complete stratigraphic section of the sediments were selected. Infor- mation on these wells was taken from stock sources, as well as from the Database "Groundwater of the Republic of Belarus". Production wells at group and single water intakes, wells of hydrogeological posts and observation wells at water intakes, as well as wells indicated in the reports of geological surveys and cadastres "Groundwater of the BSSR" were selected as key wells. In accordance with the geological structure and stratigraphic division of the rock mass containing fresh water, hydrogeological subdivisions of the Quaternary and pre-Quaternary age are distinguished, ac- cording to the conditions of occurrence and degree of overlap, aquifers and complexes of groundwater and pressured waters. Recharge of aquifers and complexes occurring at depths of up to 200–400 m occurs mainly within watersheds, while discharge occurs in modern and ancient river valleys and due to vertical crossflows. The source of feeding is mainly atmospheric precipitation, as well as waters of overlying and underly- ing sediments [4]. As a result of the work carried out, 5 transboundary groundwater bodies were identified in the Dnieper river basin in Belarus (Table 2) and the corresponding GWB in Ukraine (Table 23). New codes were assigned to all transboundary groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin on the territory of Belarus. It should be noted that in the work of 2014 [6], seven groundwater bodies (GWB) were identified and delineated in the Dnieper river basin in Belarus: three in Quaternary aquifers, and four in artesian aq- uifers of pre-Quaternary sediments. However, 2 of the seven identified groundwater bodies are not transboundary with Ukraine (GW06 and GW07), therefore, in this work, 5 groundwater bodies are considered and characterized.

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Table 2: List of delineated transboundary GWBs in the Dnieper river basin in Belarus

New Old GWB № groundwater code in the Index Groundwater body name body code RBMP 1 BYDNGW0001 GW01 bIV Holocene swamp aquifer 2 BYDNGW0002 GW02 aIV,aIIIpz, water-bearing Holocene alluvial, Poozerie alluvial, laIIIpz Poozerie lacustrine-alluvial aquifers (s) 3 BYDNGW0003 GW03 fIIds water-bearing Dnieper super-moraine fluvioglacial aquifer 4 BYDNGW0004 GW04 (P+N) water-bearing Paleogene and Neogene terrigenous complex 5 BYDNGW0005 GW05 К water-bearing Cretaceous carbonate-terrigenous aquifer

6 - GW06 D3fm2+3,D water-bearing Upper Devonian terrigenous- sr+sm, carbonate complex Dst+ln,

7 - GW07 V+R2pn water-bearing and Vendian terrigenous complex

Table 3: Comparison of joint transboundary GWBs in the territory of Belarus and Ukraine

№ New groundwater body code (Belarus) Groundwater body code (Ukraine) 1 BYDNGW0001 UAM5.1GW0001 2 BYDNGW0002 UAM5.1GW0002 and UAM5.1GW0006 3 BYDNGW0003 UAM5.1GW0003 4 BYDNGW0004 UAM5.1GW0012 и UAM5.1GW0013 5 BYDNGW0005 UAM5.1GW0014 и UAM5.1GW0019

A more detailed hydrogeological characteristic of each identified transboundary water body of the Dnieper river basin is presented below.

20 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

4.2.1 Groundwater body BYDNGW0001

Groundwater body BYDNGW0001 (is an aquiferous Holocene swamp aquifer (bIV). Its distribution area is 8,130.91 km2 (Figure 3). Waters are subsurface, free-flowing, porous. The depth of the groundwater level from the earth's surface varies from 0 to 5 m, with an average of 2 m. The hydraulic parameters of swamp aquifers are low. The filtration coefficient (K) varies from 0.1 to 2.0 m/day, and the water permeability from 0.1 to 10 m2/day.

Figure 3: Groundwater body BYDNGW0001 together with the Ukrainian parts

The ecosystems associated with the water body are swamps. The lithology of the rocks is represented by peat with a thickness of 0.5 to 5 m. According to the chemical water composition, there are hydro- carbonate-sulphate calcium and sodium-calcium, sulphate-hydrocarbonate sodium-calcium with a mineralization of 0.2–1.0 g/dm3. Peat swamps are replenished with atmospheric precipitation and groundwater. There is a direct hydraulic connection between ground (shallow) aquifers and peat swamps. The ecological status of wetlands is highly dependent on fluctuations in groundwater levels. Due to the high vulnerability, special hydrological regime and the need for protection, peatlands and wetlands of the Dnieper river basin are defined as an independent specific groundwater body. They are practically unsuitable for drinking needs due to natural and anthropogenic pollution. Main anthropogenic pressures (impact source) is drainage reclamation. Peat extraction on an industrial scale in the 1960s – 1980s led to the drainage of 51.2% of all peatlands [2]. Almost half of all peat- lands are severely damaged by drainage, peat mining or agriculture. In addition, 30% of all peat swamps have their hydrological regime changed. For many years, peat has been used mainly as fuel for boiler houses. As a result, only one third of Belarusian peatlands remain untouched. The most significant ecosystems are wetlands. There are no groundwater monitoring points within the boundaries of the water body.

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

4.2.2 Groundwater body BYDNGW0002

Groundwater body BYDNGW0002 - aquifer Holocene alluvial (aIV), Poozerie alluvial (aIIIpz), Poozerie lacustrine-alluvial (IaIIIpz) aquifers. The distribution area is 11731,83 km2. (Figure ).Waters are sub- surface, free-flowing. Water-bearing rocks, as a rule, are sands of various grain sizes with a greater or lesser content of silty-clayey impurities, sandy-gravel rocks with interlayers and lenses of sandy loam, loam and clay, with a thickness of several to 10-15 m, and sometimes more. The levels are set close to the day surface, in low areas they come to the surface. The water content of the complex is usually low. The specific flow rates of wells vary from thousandths to 2–2.5 l/s. The waters of the aquifer in areas not experiencing pollution are fresh, with a mineralization of 0.2–0.7 g/dm3, hydrocarbonate- calcium and magnesium-calcium. The soil aquifer, from the point of view of its natural protection, is mainly in unfavorable conditions and is often subject to intense pollution. In areas of agricultural and municipal pollution, water acquires a complex composition due to the high content of such compo- – – 2– + + 3 nents as NO3 , Cl , SO4 , К , Na and etc. Their mineralization increases to 1.0–1.5 g/dm and more. The aquifer is fed by infiltration of atmospheric precipitation and overflow from adjacent aquifers and complexes. Discharge takes place in river valleys and drainage channels. The waters are used for local water supply using wells and shallow wells. They are not suitable for wider use due to pollution with organic and mineral compounds [4].

Figure 4: Groundwater body BYDNGW0002 together with the Ukrainian parts

22 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

4.2.3 Groundwater body BYDNGW0003

Groundwater body (object) BYDNGW0003 is an aquiferous Dnieper super-moraine fluvioglacial aqui- fer (fIIds), with a distribution area of 6190.04 km2. The aquifer deposits are developed locally in some areas, mainly in the southern half of the territory (Figure ).It occurs first from the surface or under allu- vial, swamp or lacustrine formations at depths from 0.0 to 22.0 m. The water-bearing rocks are repre- sented by sands of various granulometric composition, with a thickness of 0.8 to 25.0 m. Sometimes the sandy strata contains interlayers of sandy loam, less often loam, with a thickness to 3.0 m. Waters are non-pressured. The filtration coefficient, depending on the particle size distribution, varies from 0.08 to 7.5 m3/day, more often 5.0-6.5 m3/day. Well flow rates vary from 0.01 to 12.0 l/s with a decrease of 2.2 and 18.045 m, respectively. Waters are fresh, with a mineralization of 0.2-0.8 g/dm3, soft and moderately hard, bicarbonate calci- um and calcium-magnesium. Due to the shallow bedding and rather high water permeability of the rocks, the aeration zones of the aquifer water are polluted everywhere. Sometimes mineralization can reach 1.4-1.9 g/dm3. The general direction of the ground flow of the aquifers included in the groundwater bodies BY- PRGW0001, BYPRGW0002 and BYPRGW0005 is towards the river valleys. Below there is an aquifer that unites aquifers containing pressured waters

Figure 5: Groundwater body BYDNGW0003 together with the Ukrainian parts

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

4.2.4 Groundwater body BYDNGW004

Groundwater body (object) BYPRGW0004 is an aquiferous Paleogene-Neogene terrigenous complex (P-N), with an area of distribution - 15043.35 km2. It is widely developed in the southern regions of the Dnieper river basin within Belarus (Figure ). The depth of the complex varies from 1.6-10.0 m and 15- 50 m to 70-200 m. The water-bearing rocks are sands of different granularity, in the thickness of which there are often interlayers of clays, silts and marls (up to 5-7 m thick), as well as lenses and thin interlayers of brown coals, which have a noticeable effect on the chemical composition and general mineralization of the waters contained in them. The thickness of the water-bearing strata is generally 8–10 m. The waters of the complex are pressurized. Piezometric levels are established at depths from several to 30 m at a pressure height of 20–80 m, sometimes reaching 100 m. In isolated cases (in river valleys and low relief areas), spontaneous out- flow is observed to a height of 0.6–2.5 m.

Figure 6: Groundwater body BYDNGW0004 together with the Ukrainian parts

The value of the filtration coefficient, depending on the lithological composition of water-bearing rocks, varies from tenths in the south of the Orsha artesian basin in the territory of the Minsk region to 14.9- 15.2 m/day in the Pripyat artesian basin in the west of the and reaches 30.1 m/day in the Gomel district of the Gomel region. The average value is 5.0-7.0 m/day.

24 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

The waters of the complex are bicarbonate calcium and magnesium-calcium with mineralization up to 0.6 g/dm3, less often - hydrocarbonate-sulphate calcium-sodium with mineralization 0.1 - 0.3 g/dm33. Often they have an increased iron content, in some cases reaching 3 - 5 g/dm3. Bacteriologically, the waters are healthy. According to the security criteria, they belong to the category of conditionally protected. Water is widely used in the south of the republic by both large and small water consumers (Svetlogorsk, Gomel, Rechitsa, etc.).

4.2.5 Groundwater body BYDNGW005

Groundwater body (object) BYDNGW0005 is an aquiferous Cretaceous carbonate-terrigenous com- plex (K2), with an area of 43769.48 km2 (Figure ). It is widely distributed in the eastern and southeast- ern regions of the Dnieper river basin. In accordance with the scheme of hydrogeological zoning, it is confined to the southeastern part of the Orsha artesian and occupies the eastern territories of the Pri- pyat artesian basin. It combines the deposits of the Maastrichtian, Campanian, Santonian, Coniacian, Turonian stages and the middle and upper substages of the Upper Cretaceous. It is occuring under Paleogene, Neogene or Quaternary sediments at a depth of several meters to 60 - 130 m. In the val- leys of the Dnieper and Sozh rivers within very limited areas of the complex deposits come to the sur- face. It is underlain by Albian and Lower Cenomanian deposits. The water-bearing stratum is represented to varying degrees by fractured and karst marls, chalk, chalk-like limestones ("marl-chalk strata") with rare thin sandy and clayey interlayers. The total thick- ness of the strata ranges from 5–10 m in the north to 220 m in the southeast in the Pripyat artesian basin. Water permeability reaches 1120 m2/day (Gomel, Sozh, Iput water intakes) with minimum values of 200–280 m2/day in the area of the Vetka and Chechersk cities. In average 200–300 m2/day. The marl-chalk strata contains pressure water. Piezometric levels are installed close to the day sur- face, usually at depths of up to 10 m, in rare cases 50 m. In some places, the level rises to 0.1-13.7 m above the earth's surface with a head from several to 120 m, in most cases 50–80 m. Recharge of reserves and discharge of waters of the complex is performed mainly due to the overflow of water from aquifers and complexes bordering it in the section. Recharge areas are watersheds, unloading occurs within river valleys. The waters of the described complex are fresh with a mineralization of 0.1 - 0.5 g/dm3. In terms of chemical composition, they are bicarbonate calcium, calcium-magnesium and sodium-calcium. Some- times they contain an increased iron content up to 10 g/dm3. Groundwater of the Upper Cretaceous carbonate complex are used for household and drinking needs in the city of Gomel at the water intakes Sozh, Iput and Tsentralny. Albian and Cenomanian terrigenous aquifer (Kal + s). It is widely distributed in the Dnieper river basin, occupying its central, eastern and southern regions. Its boundaries generally coincide with the location of the overlying Upper Cretaceous carbonate complex. It combines deposits of the Albian stage of the Lower Cretaceous and the Lower Cenomanian substage of the Upper Cretaceous. It is occuring at depths from 5 to 420 m, usually no deeper than 150–200 m under a weakly water- bearing or aquiferous Upper Cretaceous carbonate complex, less often under a Paleogene-Neogene or Quaternary aquiferous complexes. It is mainly represented by glauconite- sands, fine to fine- grained, often clayey to varying degrees, with interlayers of weakly cemented , siltstones and clays. Sometimes there are phosphorite nodules. In some places, sandy marls and chalk can be traced in the roof. The thickness of the water-bearing sands varies from tenths to 5–6 m at the north-

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

ern boundary of its distribution, 10–25 - in the central part of the Dnieper river basin and up to 30-50 m in the east, on average, the thickness does not exceed 10-15 m. The aquifer contains pressurized water. Piezometric levels are set at depths from 0.5 m to 35 m, more often not more than 5-15 m. In some cases, wells pump to a height of up to +3.5 m. The head height is usually 50-100 m. The filtration coefficients are usually 3–8 m/day, varying from tenths to 25 m/day. Water permeability, as a rule, is in the range of 170 - 220 m2/day. The feeding and discharge of water is carried out mainly due to the overflow of water from the aquifers and complexes bordering it in the section. The waters of the described aquifer are fresh with mineralization 0.1 - 0.5 g/dm3. In terms of chemical composition, they are predominantly hydrocarbonate calcium and calcium-magnesium, less often so- dium-calcium. This aquifer is one of the main for the purposes of water supply in the settlements in the south of the Mogilev regions and the Gomel regions.

Figure 7: Groundwater body BYDNGW0005 together with the Ukrainian parts

26 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

5 IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TRANSBOUNDARY SUB-PARTS OF GWBS IN THE DNIEPER AND PRIPYAT RIVER BASINS IN BELARUS

5.1 Basis and criteria for the identification

The identification of groundwater bodies in the Pripyat river basin was completed in 2018, and identifi- cation of transboundary groundwater bodies with Ukraine was done in 2019.Some of the identified transboundary groundwater bodies in both countries (Belarus and Ukraine) have large areas. Howev- er, only some parts of these transboundary groundwater bodies are affected by transboundary im- pacts. While most of these groundwater bodies are not affected simply due to limitations due to a combination of hydrogeological factors and the distance to the country's border. Some of the trans- boundary groundwater bodies form groups of bodies, the area of which does not reach the border of the country. Therefore, their transboundary interactivity is not obvious. In addition, in the projects of 2018 and 2019, groundwater bodies were considered only in the Pripyat River basin, and the Dnieper was not included in the given work. Within the framework of this project, parts of transboundary water bodies in the basins of the Pripyat and Dnieper rivers have been identi- fied and characterized in order to obtain a complete picture for the territory of the entire Dnieper river basin (from the Ukrainian and Belarusian sides). That is why this project aims to localize those parts of the existing groundwater bodies in the Pripyat and Dnieper basins that can interact in a transboundary manner, taking into account the groundwater monitoring optimization and data exchange. The implementation of this project is aimed at trans- boundary harmonization with Ukraine. When performing the study, we used:  work results obtained within the framework of the EUWI + project "Identification and characteri- zation of groundwater bodies and design of a groundwater monitoring network in the Pripyat river basin in Belarus" (February 2019);  results obtained under the EUWI + project “Identification and delineation of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin in Ukraine” (February 2019);  discussions held at the working meeting between Belarus and Ukraine in December 2019 in Ki- ev;  the latest results developed under the EUWI + project on transboundary coordination with Ukraine in 2019/2020;  available additional information on the already existing monitoring network in the study area and available groundwater monitoring data. To identify and characterize transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper and Pri- pyat basin territories, we used the main criterion: we identified transboundary corridors in the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins at a distance of 50–55 km. from the state border. This distance was chosen to capture the area of recharge of aquifers and complexes of the zone of active water exchange (wa- tersheds) and the area of groundwater discharge (river valleys). In addition, at this distance to the border, there is a representative observation network for monitoring groundwater. As in previous stud- ies, the following main criteria were also taken into account: the degree of use of the allocated GWB,

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

geological and hydrogeological factors, anthropogenic loads (potential sources of pollution), water and terrestrial ecosystems that are associated with water bodies.

5.2 Characteristics of the transboundary sub-parts of GWBs in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins in Belarus

As a result of the studies performed, taking into account all of the above criteria, transboundary sub- parts of GWBs in the basins of the Dnieper and Pripyat rivers were identified. In the Pripyat river basin the total number of water bodies coincides with the previously identified transboundary water bodies (a total of 6 water bodies). In general, their number coincides with the previously identified transboundary GWBs in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins. However, in GWB BYPRGW0006, the number of water bodies included in it wasadjusted, i.e. previously BYPRGW0006 included the aquiferousBerezinsky-Dnieper water-glacial complex (Quaternary deposits) and the Paleogene and Neogene complex (pre-Quaternary deposits). Due to the fact that the aquifer Bere- zinsky-Dnieper water-glacial complex is not transboundary with Ukraine, this was excluded from BY- PRGW0006 (Table 4). In the Dnieper river basin, 5 transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies have been identified, and new codes have been assigned to them (Table 4). Table 4: Transboundary sub-parts of GWBs in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basin in Belarus

GWB code of GWB code of № the Pripyat river the Dnieper river Index GWB name basin basin 1 BYPRGW0001 BYDNGW0001 bIV Holocene swamp aquifer 2 BYPRGW0002 BYDNGW0002 aIV,aIIIpz, water-bearing Holocene laIIIpz alluvial, Poozerie alluvial, Poozerie lacustrine- alluvial aquifer (s) 3 BYPRGW0005 BYDNGW0003 fIIds water-bearing Dnieper super-moraine fluvioglacial aquifer 4 BYPRGW0006 BYDNGW0004 (P+N) water-bearing Paleogene and Neogene terrigenous complex 5 BYPRGW0007 BYDNGW0005 К water-bearing Cretaceous carbonate-terrigenous aquifer

6 BYPRGW0009 - V+R2pn water-bearing Pinsk and Vendian terrigenous complex

Studies of technogenic objects located within the transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins in Belarus made it possible to conduct their typification and as- sess the nature of technogenic impact on fresh groundwater. The identified technogenic objects within the territory under consideration are typified as follows: groundwater deposits, land reclamation facilities, agricultural facilities, industrial facilities, utility facili- ties, and peat processing facilities. The types and characteristics of technogenic objects with an as- sessment of the degree of impact on groundwater are given in A detailed description of each ground- water body of transboundary sub-parts in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins is presented in the fol- lowing sub chapters.

28 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Table 5. A detailed description of each groundwater body of transboundary sub-parts in the Dnieper and Pri- pyat river basins is presented in the following sub chapters.

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Table 5: Types of anthropogenic pressures on fresh groundwater of the transboundary subparts of GWBs in the Pripyat and Dnieper river basin in Belarus

Type of Consequence and extent of negative Location Impact source pressure impact Groundwater Pinsk Groundwater Formation of depression funnels, change use (the Pripyat river), intakes in the conditions of interrelation of surface and groundwater, drainage of the Mozyr ground aquifer, reduction of river flow, (the Pripyat river), change in the structure of the balance of groundwater. Changes in water quality Gomel due to the impact of technogenic objects (the Dnieper river). and inflow of substandard waters. Decrease in levels from 2.5-10 m, radius of influence from 0.1 to 10 km Reclamation Polesye lowland Drainage facilities Drainage of the ground aquifer, change in the regime and balance of (the Pripyat and Dnieper groundwater, decrease in recharge of rivers) aquifers and the amount of precipitation, increase in mineralization. Decrease in levels to 1 and more m. About 14 thousand km2 have been drained. The influence of drainage reclamation can be traced at a distance of 1-5 km. Agricultural State farm-combine Pigsties, drainage Local and area, periodic and constant activities "Zarya" Mozyr district, JSC irrigation fields, groundwater pollution with pesticides, "Management company of mineral fertilizers nitrates, ammonium, etc. The change in the holding" warehouses hydrodynamic conditions is insignificant. Agromashservice" (the Pripyat river) Oil refining Mozyr Industrial site Flooding of the territory of an oil refinery. industry (the Pripyat River) biological ponds, Groundwater contamination with oil sludge pads, sludge products. ponds, oil storage, underground gas storage, gas station

Utility Pinsk Wastewater Possible local groundwater pollution with facilities Mozyr treatment plants, ammonium nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, (the Pripyat river) solid waste landfills, nitrate nitrogen, phosphates, chlorides, sludge pads, sulfates, chromium, iron, heavy metals, Gomel filtration fields oil products, synthetic surfactants, (the Dnieper river) phenols Industrial OJSC "Belarusian Cement Sludge Groundwater contamination with production Plant", Municipal Unitary accumulator, sludge industrial waste. Enterprise dump, ash dump, "Spetskommuntrans", industrial waste OJSC "Rechitsa Hardware landfill, storage of Plant" saline-saturated drill cuttings, steel- (the Dnieper river) making and ash- and-slag waste sites, quarry, industrial site Peat Pinsk city sales Industrial Change in the groundwater level regime processing department, production of peat, industry Gomelobltoplivo KUP fuel pellets "Dobrushsky branch" (the Dnieper river)

"Lelchitsy branch" (the Pripyat river)

30 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Type of Consequence and extent of negative Location Impact source pressure impact Drogichin district sales and other (the Pripyat river)

5.2.1 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0001 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0001 (Dnieper river)

Hydrogeological parameters. The total area of distribution of the transboundary sub-part of BY- PRGW0001 body is 4808.20 km2 and the area of distribution of the transboundary sub-part BYDNGW0001 is 1098,45 km2 (Figure 8). The Holocene swamp aquifer (bIV) is subsurface, free-flowing. The waters are porous according to the conditions of occurrence, the nature of the voids of the water-bearing rocks. Transboundary sub-parts are confined to swamp deposits. The water-bearing rocks of swamp deposits are mainly peat of vary- ing degrees of decomposition with interlayers of calcareous material, vivianite, swamp ores or clayey rocks. Peat thickness is from 0.5 to 7 m (BYPRGW0001) and from 0.4 to 6 m (BYDNGW0001), on average 1–2 m. The depth of the water bodies from the ground surface is from 0.0 to 7.0 m (BY- PRGW0001 and BYDNGW0001). Filtration properties depend on the degree of peat decomposition. Filtration coefficients for poorly de- composed peat are 1.0– 4.0 m/day, for medium decomposed peat 0.3–1.0 m/day, for decomposed peat 0.01–0.08 m/day (BYPRGW0001 and BYDNGW0001). The average annual fluctuations in the water level are 0.5–1.5 m (BYPRGW0001) and 0.4–1.3 m (BYDNGW0001) [3]. In spring, swamps and marshy lowlands are flooded with flood waters. Chemical groundwater composition. According to the chemical composition, the waters are hydro- carbonate-sulphate calcium and sodium-calcium, sulphate-hydrocarbonate sodium-calcium with min- eralization 0.2 - 1.0 g/dm3 (BYPRGW0001) and 0,2 – 0,9 g/dm3(BYDNGW0001). An increased amount of nitrogen compounds and iron is observed in the hydrochemical composition [2]. Groundwater supply. Recharge of groundwater reserves of BYPRGW0001 and BYDNGW0001 is carried out mainly due to the infiltration of atmospheric precipitation and due to the inflow of pressur- ized waters of underlying aquifers and complexes in river valleys. The drains are rivers, reclamation channels, lakes and marshlands. There is a direct hydraulic connection between ground (shallow) aquifers and peat swamps. The ecological status of wetlands is highly dependent on fluctuations in groundwater levels. Groundwater use. Water is not used for drinking needs due to its susceptibility to pollution of natural and anthropogenic origin. Sources of groundwater impact (main anthropogenic loads). The main anthropogenic pressures are drainage reclamation, development of peat deposits and the use of peat as a fuel, which disrupts the natural hydrological regime of swamps. There are several peat processing enterprises in the study area of BYPRGW0001 and BYDNGW0001 (see Table 5), which can potentially have a negative im- pact on changes in the level regime of swamp deposits. The most significant ecosystems are wetlands. About 11% (326,500 ha) of the modern peatland area is protected (all levels of protection) as national parks, biosphere reserves, botanical, hydrologi- cal and berry reserves. In total, 18 potential territories under the Ramsar Convention were identified, and 8 of them have significant areas of peat bogs (the largest of them are the Olmanskie Marshes Republican Landscape Reserve, the Pripyatsky State National Park, etc.) (BYPRGW0001). In addition

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

to these large protected areas, there are many locally protected small peatlands (source: http://m-h- s.org/stiftung/upload/pdf-downloadbar/Inventory_of_peatlands_BY_UA_RU_small.pdf) [11]. Existing monitoring network. Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwa- ter body BYPRGW0001, there are currently 5 groundwater monitoring points that were equipped as part of the implementation of Lot 1 in 2019. There are no monitoring points on the territory of the BYDNGW0001 groundwater body. This groundwater body was separately identified due to its high vulnerability, special hydrological re- gime and the need to protect peatlands and wetlands of the study area.

Figure 8: Transboundary sub parts of BYPRGW0001 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0001 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river)

32 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

5.2.2 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0002 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0002 (Dnieper river)

Hydrogeological parameters. The total distribution area of the transboundary sub-part BY- PRGW0002 is 7512.02 km2, and the distribution area of the transboundary sub-part BYDNGW0002 is 4100.13 km2 (Figure 9) Water-bearing Holocene alluvial, Poozerie alluvial, Poozerie lacustrine-alluvial aquifer (s) (aIV, aIIIpz, laIIIpz) ground, free-flowing. Water according to the conditions of occurrence, the nature of the voids of water-bearing rocks are pore. Groundwater bodies are confined to alluvial Quaternary deposits. Deposits occupy vast areas in the Pripyat and the Dnieper river valleys and their tributaries. They are confined to the floodplains, the first and second terraces above the floodplain. Water-bearing rocks are mainly sands of various sizes and grades, with a greater or lesser content of silty-clayey impurities, as well as gravel-pebble accumulations, which lie at the base of the strata in the form of lenses or in the form of interlayers; sandy loam, loam, marls, silts. The thickness of the deposits of BYPRGW0002 is from 2.3 to 32 m and the thickness of the BYDNGW0002 deposits is from 2.0 to 30 m. The depth of the groundwater level varies from 0.2 (BYPRGW0002) to 4.0 (BYDNGW0002) m; in areas of low floodplains, groundwater comes to the surface and forms lakes and swamps. Average annual level fluctuations is 0.5–2.0 m (BYPRGW0002) and 0,4-1,5 m (BYDNGW0002). The filtration coefficient of water-bearing rocks, depending on their granulometric composition, varies from 0.09 to 32.0 m/day, and 4–7 m/day is prevailing for BYPRGW0002 and 3–10 m/day for BYDNGW0002. Chemical groundwater composition. The waters are usually of the bicarbonate-calcium type, from soft to hard, slightly acidic or slightly alkaline. Total mineralization 0.05–0.6 g/dm3 (BYPRGW0002) and 0,07 – 0,5 g/dm3(BYDNGW0002), total water hardness 0.65-12.42 mg-eq. Iron content in water in some areas reaches 3 mg/dm3, less often 15 mg/dm3 (BYPRGW0002). Groundwater supply. Recharge of groundwater reserves is carried out mainly due to the infiltration of atmospheric precipitation and due to the inflow of pressurized waters of underlying aquifers and com- plexes in river valleys. Rivers and lakes are drains. Groundwater use. The transboundary sub-part of this groundwater body is exploited using shallow log wells. In some sections of river valleys, it can be recommended for domestic and drinking water supply, subject to sanitary measures [3].

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Figure 9: Transboundary sub parts of BYPRGW0002 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0002 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river)

Sources of groundwater impact (main anthropogenic loads). There are the following facilities located in the research area: On the territory of BYPRGW0002 the following facilities are located:

 Water intakes: 3 operating water intakes for centralized water supply where observations are not carried out;  Utility facilities: 8 facilities, including: landfills for solid municipal waste (7 facilities), treatment facilities (1 facility).  Industrial facilities: industrial waste landfills (1 site) (see Figure 106). On the territory of BYDNGW0002 the following facilities are located:

 Water intakes - 2 operating water intakes for centralized water supply, where observations are carried out;  Utility facilities - 8 facilities, including: a sludge storage facility (1 facility), landfills for solid mu- nicipal waste (2 facilities), sludge pads (3 facilities), a dump of technological waste (2 facilities).

34 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

 Agricultural objects - agricultural irrigation fields (1 facility).  Industrial facilities - industrial waste landfills (1 facility), oil products warehouse - (1 facility) (see Fig. 16).

The most significant ecosystems are the large tributaries of the Pripyat and Dnieper rivers (the Bo- brik, Vit‘, Pina, Goryn‘, Plav, Goristaya, Cherten, Zhelon, Braginka rivers). There are a number of unique reserves and sanctuaries of local and republican significance in the research area. Below is a description of the largest protected areas. Polesye radiation-ecological reserve (covers the territory of BYPRGW0002 and BYDNGW0002) was established in 1988 in a 30-km regime zone formed after the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (in Khoiniki, Bragin and Narovlya districts). It was created with the aim of implementing a set of measures to prevent the transfer of radionuclides outside the contaminated zones, to study the state of natural plant complexes, and to conduct radiobiological studies. The reserve is the only one of its kind in the forest zone of Europe. State National Park "Pripyatsky" (covers the territory of BYPRGW0002) was created in 1996 (within the transboundary sub-part it is the territory of the Lelchitsy region). The largest upland and transition- al swamps, floodplain oak forests, meadows, coniferous forests, etc., are preserved here [9]. The republican landscape reserve "Srednyaya Pripyat" (covers the territory of BYPRGW0002) was established in 1999 (Pinsk, and regions). Within the territory of the reserve is the larg- est river floodplain in Europe, which has been preserved in its natural state. 11 protected species of flora have been identified and 52 species of avifauna are included in the Red Book of Belarus. The republican landscape reserve "Olmanskie swamps" (covers the territory of BYPRGW0002) was created in 1998 in the Stolin region. Here is the largest complex of upland, transitional and lowland swamps in Europe, 40 species of fauna and flora are included in the Red Book of Belarus. The territory of the Pripyat and the Dnieper river basins are crossed by a number of ecological corri- dors of pan-European importance, connecting central and southern Europe. Despite the fact that a system of specially protected natural territories has been created and is functioning in the region, in a number of cases a single natural complex is dissected by the borders of neighboring states. On differ- ent sides of the border, there are different regimes of nature conservation and economic activities, there is a different attitude towards some biological species. In this regard, there is an obvious need to coordinate actions to create transboundary biosphere reserves with an coordinated status and bound- aries [6, 9]. Existing monitoring network. Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwa- ter body BYPRGW0002, there are 3 hydrogeological posts, 2 of which are operating and 1 is aban- doned. These hydrogeological stations include 8 observation wells, of which 3 are active and 5 are abandoned. Also, there are 3 operating water intakes in the research area however, they are not monitored. In addition, there are 8 local monitoring points on this territory (see the three tables in chapter 6). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYDNGW0002, there are 3 operating hydrogeological posts. These hydrogeological posts include 8 observation wells, of which 6 are active and 2 are abandoned. Also there are 2 operating water intakes in the research ar- ea, where monitoring observations are carried out (10 observation wells). In addition, there are 12 local monitoring points on this territory.

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

5.2.3 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0005 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0003 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river)

Hydrogeological parameters. The total distribution area of the transboundary sub-part BY- PRGW0005 is 3142.76 km2, and the distribution area of the transboundary sub-part BYDNGW0003 – 1896.98 km2 (Figure 40). The water-bearing Dnieper above-moraine fluvioglacial aquifer (fIIds) is subsurface, free-flowing, the waters according to the conditions of occurrence, the nature of the voids of the water-bearing rocks are pore. Groundwater bodies occur first from the surface or under alluvial, swamp or lacustrine formations at depths from 0.0 to 22.0 m (BYPRGW0005) and from 0 to 18,0 m (BYDNGW0003). Aquifer deposits are developed locally in some areas. Water-bearing rocks are represented by sands of various granulometric composition, with a thickness of 0.9 to 26.0 m (BYPRGW0005) and from 0,8 to 25,0 m (BYDNGW0003). Sometimes the sandy stra- tum contains interlayers of sandy loam, less often loam, with a thickness of up to 3.5 m. Groundwater bodies are shallow. The depth of the groundwater level varies from 0.5 to 5 m (BYPRGW0005) and from 0,7 to 6,0 m (BYDNGW0003). The average annual level fluctuations are 0.5–2.0 m. The filtration coefficient of water-bearing rocks, depending on their granulometric composition, varies from 0.07 to 7.5 m/day, more often 5.0-6.0 m/day (BYPRGW0005 and BYDNGW0003). Well flow rates vary from 0.01 (BYPRGW0005) to 13.0 l/s (BYDNGW0003) with a decrease of 2.2 and 18.10 m, respectively. Chemical groundwater composition. In terms of chemical composition, the waters are fresh, with a mineralization of 0.2-0.8 g/dm3 (BYPRGW0005 and BYDNGW0003), soft and moderately hard, bicar- bonate calcium and calcium-magnesium. Due to the shallow bedding and rather high water permeabil- ity of the rocks, the aeration zones of the water in the aquifer are subject to surface pollution. Some- times mineralization can reach 1.5-1.9 g/dm3. The iron content is 1.87-2 mg/dm3, often reaching 3 mg/dm3 and more (BYPRGW0005). Groundwater supply. The water supply (BYPRGW0005 and BYDNGW0003) occurs due to the infil- tration of atmospheric precipitation, in river valleys - additionally due to the overflow from the underly- ing aquifers and flood waters. Groundwater use. The transboundary sub-part of the water bodies is operated by single wells with a depth of 20-40 m. Sources of groundwater impact (main anthropogenic loads). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYPRGW0005 groundwater body the fol- lowing facilities are located:  Utility facilities: solid municipal waste landfills (1 facility). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0003 groundwater body the fol- lowing facilities are located:  Utility facilities: solid municipal waste landfills (2 facilities).  Agricultural facilities - agricultural fields of irrigation (1 facility) (see Figure 117). The most significant ecosystems - There are no ecosystems associated with the transboundary sub-part of the water body. Existing monitoring network. Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwa- ter body BYPRGW0005, there is 1 operating hydrogeological post. This hydrogeological station in-

36 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

cludes 3 observation wells, of which 2 are active and 1 is abandoned. In addition, there are 2 objects of local monitoring on this territory (see the three tables in chapter 6). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYDNGW0003, not a single hydrogeological station is located, and there are no water intakes either. There are 2 objects of local monitoring on this territory.

Figure 40: Transboundary sub parts of BYPRGW0005 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0003 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river)

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

5.2.4 Transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies BYPRGW0006 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0004 (Dnieper river)

Hydrogeological parameters. The total area of distribution of the transboundary sub-part BY- PRGW0006 is 17815.96 km2, and the area of distribution of the transboundary sub-part BYDNGW0004 is 7757.12 km2 (Figure 511). According to the conditions of occurrence, waters are pressurized and according to the nature of the voids of the water-bearing rocks waters are porous. Overlaying low-permeability moraines of the Dnieper and Sozh glaciations are absent in most of the territory of the water bodies. The water-bearing rocks are represented by sands of various grain sizes, less often - weakly cement- ed sandstones. In the thickness of the sands, there are often interlayers of clays, silts and marls up to 5–7 m thick (BYPRGW0006 and BYDNGW0004) and thin interlayers and lenses of brown coal, which have a noticeable effect on the chemical composition and mineralization of the waters contained in these sediments. The complexes occur at a depth of 1.6–10.0 to 200 m, generally not deeper than 40–80 m (BYDNGW0004) and at a depth of 17,5 to 62,2 (BYPRGW0006) under Quaternary formations, under- lain by Cretaceous, less often Jurassic deposits. The thickness of the water-bearing strata varies over a wide range. It reaches its highest values (up to 100–160 m) in the southeast of the Pripyat-Artesian basin (BYPRGW0006). On the territory of BYDNGW0004 it does not exceed 40 m (thicknesses of 10– 30 m prevail). Filtration coefficients vary from tenths (BYPRGW0006) to 30, 1 m/day (BYDNGW0004). The average value is 5.0-7.0 m/day. Water permeability usually varies within 130 - 400 m2/day (water intakes of Rechitsa, Loev and Terekhovka - BYDNGW0004). Chemical groundwater composition. The waters are diverse in composition: hydrocarbonate- magnesium-calcium, hydrocarbonate-calcium, hydrocarbonate-sodium-calcium, chloride-hydrocarbo- nate-sodium-calcium, mainly hydrocarbonate calcium-magnesium. The water quality is satisfactory. The total mineralization of water ranges from 0,2-0,4 g/dm3(BYPRGW0006) to 0,6 g/dm3 (BYDNGW0004), total hardness - up to 7 mg-eq/dm3. The iron content is 0.06 - 2.6 mg/dm3, often reaching 3 mg/dm3 and more (BYPRGW0006 and BYDNGW0004). Groundwater supply. The main recharge of the BYPRGW0006 and BYDNGW0004 groundwater bodies is carried out due to the downward filtration of the overlying water and the inflow of the pres- sure water of the underlying aquifers and complexes. The direct role of atmospheric precipitation in this process is less significant and is noted in places where the roof is high and there are no overlying moraine deposits [11, 15]. Groundwater use. The transboundary sub-parts of the water bodies are widely exploited as group water intakes and single wells. Sources of groundwater impact (main anthropogenic loads). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYPRGW0006 groundwater body the fol- lowing facilities are located:  Water intakes - 4 water intakes for centralized water supply (3 operating and 1 abandoned);  Utility facilities - 15 facilities, including: a sludge storage facility (2 facilities), landfills for solid municipal waste (10 facilities), treatment facilities (2 facilities), sludge pads (1 facility).  Agricultural objects - agricultural irrigation fields (1 facility).  Industrial facilities - industrial waste landfills (2 sites) (see Figure 118).

38 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0004 groundwater body the fol- lowing facilities are located:  Water intakes - 8 operating water intakes for centralized water supply;  Utility facilities - 11 facilities, including: a sludge storage facility (1 facility), landfills for solid municipal waste (4 facilities), sludge pads (3 facilities), a waste dump (3 facilities);  Agricultural objects - agricultural irrigation fields (2 objects);  Industrial facilities - industrial waste landfills (1 facility), oil products warehouse (1 facility) (see Figure 18). The most significant ecosystems - there are no ecosystems associated with the transboundary sub- part of the water body. Existing monitoring network. Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BY- PRGW0006 groundwater body, there are 9 hydrogeological posts, 8 of which are operating and 1 is abandoned. These hydrogeological stations include 19 observation wells, of which 13 are active and 6 are abandoned. Also in the study area there are 4 water intakes, 3 are operating and 1 is abandoned. These water intakes include 9 wells, of which 5 are active and 2 are abandoned, monitoring observa- tions are carried out only at 1 water intakes (7 observation wells) In addition, there are 18 points of local monitoring on this territory (see the three tables in chapter 6). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0004 groundwater body, there are 2 operating hydrogeological posts. These hydrogeological stations include 2 operating observation wells. There are also 8 operating water intakes in the study area. These water intakes include 43 wells, of which 28 are active and 15 are abandoned, monitoring observations are carried out only at 4 water intakes (28 observation wells) In addition, there are 15 local monitoring points on this territory (see the three tables in chapter 6).

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Figure 51: Transboundary sub parts of BYPRGW0006 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0004 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river)

40 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

5.2.5 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0007 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0005 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river)

Hydrogeological parameters. The total area of distribution of the transboundary sub-part BY- PRGW0007 is 13542.84 km2, and the area of distribution of the transboundary sub-part BYDNGW0005 is 7882.0 km2 (Figure 62). The GWBs are represented by two Cretaceous strata. The water-bearing Cretaceous carbonate-terrigenous aquifer is pressurized, according to the condi- tions of occurrence, the nature of the voids of water-bearing rocks - pore or porous-fractured. It is rep- resented by a marl-chalk stratum. The permeability and water availability of these rocks is determined by the varying degrees of their fracturing. In most of the territory, they form thick and regionally sus- tained impervious layers. Their thickness varies from 5–10 m to 80 m (BYPRGW0007) – 220 m (BYDNGW0005) in the south-east in the Pripyat Artesian basin. The water-bearing stratum is represented to varying degrees by fractured and karst marls, chalk, chalky limestones ("marl-chalk strata") with rare thin sandy and clayey interlayers. The prevailing val- ues are usually 8–15 m. Piezometric levels are established at depths of up to 65 m, more often - no more than 5-10 m (BY- PRGW0007 и BYDNGW0005). Sometimes wells pump to a height of 18 m. The head height is 25-90 m in elevated areas, increasing to 170-326 m in depressions. Mainly the head above the roof is 50– 120 m. Filtration coefficients vary from 1.0 to 19.0, the average value is 6.0-8.0 m/day for BYDNGW0005 and 0,4 – 4,58 m/day for BYPRGW0007. The water conductivity usually does not ex- ceed 200 m2/day BYPRGW0007, but sometimes it reaches 1120 m2/day (Gomel, Sozh, Iput water intakes - BYDNGW0005). Water-bearing Albian and Cenomanian terrigenous horizon (Kal + s) It is widely distributed in the study area, occupying its central, eastern and southern regions. Its boundaries generally coincide with the location of the overlying aquifer and weakly water-bearing lo- cally aquiferous Upper Cretaceous carbonate complex. It combines deposits of the Albian stage of the Lower Cretaceous and the Lower Cenomanian sub stage of the Upper Cretaceous. It is occurring at depths from 5 to 420 m (BYDNGW0005), usually no deeper than 67,0-170 м (BY- PRGW0007) m under the weakly water-bearing or aquiferous Upper Cretaceous carbonate complex, less often under the Paleogene-Neogene or Quaternary aquifers. It is represented mainly by glauco- nite-quartz sands of fine to fine grained, often clayey to varying degrees, with interlayers of weakly cemented sandstones, siltstones and clays. Sometimes there are phosphorite nodules; in some plac- es, sandy marls and chalk can be traced in the roof. The thickness of water-bearing sands varies from tenths to 5-6 m at the northern boundary of distribution, 10-25 m - in the central part of the Dnieper river basin and up to 30-50 m in the east, on average, the thickness does not exceed 10-15 m (BYDNGW0005). The aquifer contains pressurized water. Piezometric levels are set at depths from 0.5 m to 35 m (BYDNGW0005), more often not more than 5-15 m (BYPRGW0007). In some cases, wells pump to a height of up to +3.5 m. The drop in piezometric levels occurs to the valleys of the rivers Dnieper, Sozh, Iput‘. The aquifer is water abundant over the entire area of distribution. Specific flow rates - from hun- dredths to 4.5 l/s, the most common values are 0.2-0.7 l/s. Filtration coefficients are usually 3-8 m/day, varying from tenths to 25 m/day. Water permeability, as a rule, is in the range of 170-220 m2/day (BY- PRGW0007 and BYDNGW0005). These water bodies are among the main ones for water supply in the settlements in the Gomel region.

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Chemical groundwater composition. The chemical composition is bicarbonate calcium-sodium, sodium, calcium and calcium-magnesium. The waters of the described water body are fresh with a mineralization of 0.1 - 0.5 g/dm3 (BYDNGW0005) and to 1,0 g/dm3 (BYPRGW0007). Groundwater supply. Water supply is carried out mainly due to the overflow of water from aquifers and complexes bordering it in the section. Recharge areas are watersheds, unloading occurs within river valleys. Groundwater use. The transboundary sub-parts of the water bodies are widely used for domestic and drinking water supply, including for such a large city as Gomel, and is the main source of groundwater in this area. Sources of groundwater impact (main anthropogenic loads). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYPRGW0007 groundwater body the fol- lowing facilities are located:  4 water intakes for centralized water supply (3 operating and 1 abandoned) (see Figure 191319). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0005 groundwater body are lo- cated:

 Water intakes - 6 operating water intakes for centralized water supply (102 operating wells) (see Figure 19). The most significant ecosystems - there are no ecosystems associated with the transboundary sub- part of the water body. Existing monitoring network. Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BY- PRGW0007 groundwater body, there are 4 hydrogeological posts, 3 of which are operating and 1 is abandoned. These hydrogeological posts include 6 observation wells, of which 4 are operating and 2 are abandoned. Also, there are 4 water intakes in the study area, 3 are operating and 1 is abandoned. These water intakes include 9 wells, of which 5 are operating and 4 are abandoned. Monitoring obser- vations are carried out only at 2 water intakes (5 wells) (see the three tables in chapter 6). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0005 groundwater body, there is 1 operating hydrogeological station, which includes 1 observation well. Also, there are 6 operating water intakes in the study area. These water intakes include 144 wells, of which 102 are active and 42 are abandoned, monitoring observations are carried out only at 4 water intakes (102 wells) (see the three tables in chapter 6).

42 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Figure 62:Transboundary sub parts of BYPRGW0007 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0005 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river)

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

5.2.6 Transboundary sub-part of the BYPRGW0009 groundwater body (Pripyat river)

Hydrogeological parameters. The total area of distribution of the transboundary sub-part of this body is 7,734.31 km2 (Figure 73). The aquiferous Pinsk and Vendian terrigenous complex is pressurized, the waters according to the conditions of occurrence, the nature of the voids of the water-bearing rocks are porous, fresh, distrib- uted in the western part of the study area. The water-bearing strata is represented by sandstones, siltstones, clays, volcanic rocks, gravelstones, tillites, and sands. It lies on the rocks of the crystalline basement at depths from 63 to 220 m. It is overlaying by Devonian and Cretaceous formations. The water abundance rocks within the boundaries of the distribution of the complex is very diverse: it is distinguished as an aquifer in areas of uplifts of the crystalline basement. The filtration coefficient is 1.7 m/day, the water permeability coefficients vary from 75 to 314 m2/day. The water abundance of rocks is different: well flow rates from 0.4 l/s to 15.68 l/s with a decrease of 10.05 - 32.8 m. Specific flow rates from hundredths to 1.56 l/s, prevailing - 0.5-1.0 l/s. Chemical groundwater composition. The waters of this water body are fresh, with a mineralization of 0.2 - 0.5 g/dm3, bicarbonate magnesium calcium and calcium. Groundwater supply. Water supply is carried out in shallow areas in the western part of the territory due to the overflow of water from the upper hydrogeological units, and unloading is partly in the valley of the Pripyat river to the overlying aquifer and complexes. The general direction of groundwater movement is to the east - southeast to the center of the Dnieper-Donets artesian basin. Groundwater use. The transboundary sub-part of the water body is used for domestic and drinking water supply, including cities such as Pinsk, Luninets, Stolin, etc. Sources of groundwater impact (main anthropogenic loads). There are the following facilities locat- ed in the research area: Water intakes - 7 water intakes for centralized water supply (6 operating and 1 mothballed) (see Figu- re 1420). The most significant ecosystems - there are no ecosystems associated with the transboundary sub- part of the water body. Existing monitoring network. Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwa- ter body BYPRGW0009, there is 1 operating hydrogeological post. This hydrogeological station in- cludes 1 operating observation well. Also, there are 7 water intakes in the study area, 6 are operating and 1 is abandoned. These water intakes include 60 wells, of which 44 are operating and 16 are abandoned, monitoring observations are carried out only at 2 water intakes (44 wells) (see the three tables in chapter 6).

44 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Figure 73: Transboundary sub part of GWB BYPRGW0009

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

6 EXISTING GROUNDWATER MONITORING NETWORK

As part of this project, information on the existing groundwater monitoring network in transboundary sub-parts of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins was collected and analyzed. It was found that the monitoring network is located unevenly in relation to the area of each water body. At some water bod- ies, the number of monitoring wells is extremely insufficient to perform an objective analysis of the quality and quantity of groundwater within the transboundary sub-parts Figure 84 shows of the research area at a distance of 50-55 km from the state border of the Republic of Belarus (the territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins) with the plotting of large settlements, the existing observation network (posts and water intakes), as well as points of local monitoring of groundwater.

Figure 84: Existing groundwater monitoring network within the transboundary sub-parts of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins in Belarus

Table 6 and Table 7 show statistical information on the existing monitoring network, including hydro- geological stations and water intakes on the transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat river basin and Tables 8 and 9 - parts of the territory of the Dnieper river basin, including the wells that were surveyed as part of Lot 2 of the project, carried out in 2019-2020 [5]. A complete list of objects of local monitoring on transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper basins is presented in Table 10: Thus, according to the available information, in the transboundary sub-parts of the Pripyat and Dnie- per river basins, the total number of sites (operating) where groundwater monitoring is carried out is 238 wells, of which: 37 wells of hydrogeological posts and 201 wells of water intakes (groundwater deposits). In addition, monitoring observations are carried out at 33 enterprises (objects) of local groundwater monitoring.

46 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Table 6: Statistical data on hydrogeological stations on transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat river basin in Belarus

Number of hydrogeological posts Number of observation points (wells) Number of posts/wells GWB code where (index) Total Operating Abandoned Total Operating Abandoned observations are carried out BYPRGW0001 5 5 - 5 5 - 5/5 bIV BYPRGW0002 aIV, aIIIpz, 3 2 1 8 3 5 2/3 laIIIpz, BYPRGW0005 1 1 - 3 2 1 1/2 fIIds BYPRGW0006 9 8 1 19 13 6 8/13 (P+N) BYPRGW0007 4 3 1 6 4 2 3/4 K BYPRGW0009 1 1 - 1 1 - 1/1 V+R2pn

Table 7: Statistical data on water intakes in transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat river basins in Belarus

Number of observation points Number of Number of hydrogeological posts (wells) posts/wells Water body where (index) Total Operating Abandoned Total Operating Abandoned observations are carried out BYPRGW0001 ------bIV BYPRGW0002 aIV, aIIIpz, 3 3 - - - 3 - laIIIpz, BYPRGW0005 ------fIIds BYPRGW0006 4 3 1 9 5 2 1/7 (P+N) BYPRGW0007 4 3 1 9 5 4 2/5 K BYPRGW0009 7 6 1 60 44 16 2/44 V+R2pn

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Table 8: Statistical data on hydrogeological posts on transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Dnieper river basin

Number of observation points Number of Number of hydrogeological posts (wells) posts/wells Water body where (index) Total Operating Abandoned Total Operating Abandoned observations are carried out BYDNGW0001 ------bIV BYDNGW0002 aIV, aIIIpz, 3 3 - 8 6 2 3/6 laIIIpz, BYDNW0003 ------fIIds BYDNGW0004 2 2 - 2 2 - 2/2 (P+N) BYDNGW0005 1 1 - 1 1 - 1/1 K BYDNGW0007 ------V+R2pn

Table 9: Statistical data on water intakes in transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Dnieper river basin

Number of observation points Number of Number of water intakes (wells) water Water body intakes/wells (index) where Total Operating Abandoned Total Operating Abandoned observations are carried out BYDNGW0001 ------bIV BYDNGW0002 aIV, aIIIpz, 2 2 - 13 10 3 2/10 laIIIpz, BYDNW0003 ------fIIds BYDNGW0004 8 8 - 43 28 15 4/28 (P+N) BYDNGW0005 6 6 - 144 102 42 4/102 K BYDNGW0007 ------V+R2pn

A complete list of objects of local monitoring in transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins is presented in Table 10. The following sub chapter provides a brief description of the existing network for monitoring the quanti- ty and quality of groundwater in transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins for each water body. Statistical information on the number of wells where monitoring ob- servations were carried out are presented as of 01.01.2019.

48 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Table 10: Objects of local monitoring in transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper rivers in Belarus

Local No of Region District Enterprise name monitoring Well purpose Measured parameters wells object type BYPRGW0001 – Water-bearing Holocene swamp aquifer (bIV) ------BYPRGW0002 – Water-bearing Holocene alluvial, Poozerie alluvial, Poozerie lacustrine-alluvial aquifers (s) (aIV,aIIIpz,laIIIpz) Brest Luninets Communal unitary multisectoral Landfills for 6 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district industrial enterprise of housing solid municipal wells, SMW landfill concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and communal services "Luninets waste (SMW) (Luninets), Rakitno phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil housing and communal services" settlement, 6 km east of products Luninets Brest Luninets Municipal unitary multisectoral Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district industrial enterprise of housing solid municipal wells, SMW landfill near concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and communal services waste (SMW) Lakhva settlement (1 km phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil "Mikashevichi housing and west of Lakhva) products communal services " Brest Pinsk Communal unitary production Landfills for 5 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Housing and solid municipal wells, SMW landfill concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, communal services" in Pinsk waste (SMW) (Pinsk),near Vulka phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil Gorodischenskaya products settlement Brest Pinsk Communal unitary multisectoral Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district industrial enterprise " solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, near concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, housing and communal services" waste (SMW) Logishin settlement phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Brest Pinsk Communal production unitary Treatment 5 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Pinskvodokanal" facilities wells, sludge pads of concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, treatment facilities, 1.1 km phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil from the city of Pinsk products Brest Stolin Communal unitary multisectoral Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district industrial enterprise of housing solid municipal wells, SMW landfill (David- concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and communal services "Stolin waste (SMW) Gorodok - Olshany) phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil housing and communal services" products Gomel Lelchitsy Communal production unitary Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Lelkom" solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen,

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Local No of Region District Enterprise name monitoring Well purpose Measured parameters wells object type waste (SMW) Zherelets tract phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Narovlya Municipal Unitary Enterprise Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Zhilkomstroy", Narovlya solid municipal wells, SmW landfill within the concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, waste (SMW) city of Narovlya phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products BYDNGW0002 - Water-bearing Holocene alluvial, Poozerie alluvial, Poozerie lacustrine-alluvial aquifers (s) (aIV,aIIIpz,laIIIpz) Gomel Bragin Communal housing unitary Industrial 4 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Braginskoe" waste landfill wells, toxic industrial waste concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, landfill, phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil near Petritskoe settlement products Gomel Gomel Open Joint Stock Company Dump of 17 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Gomel Chemical Plant" technological wells, phosphogypsum dump concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, wastes within the industrial phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil organization site products Gomel Gomel Communal Unitary Enterprise Landfills for 4 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Spetskommuntrans" solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, 5th km concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, waste (SMW) of Rechitskiy Avenue phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Gomel Republican Subsidiary Unitary Storage 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district Enterprise for the provision of oil warehouse for wells, Rechitsa oil storage concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, products "Belorusneft- petroleum warehouse phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil Gomeloblnefteprodukt" products products Gomel Dobrush Branch "Dobrush paper factory Sludge 8 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Hero of Labor" of the open joint- platforms wells, filtration fields, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, stock company Khvoinitskoye tract phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil "BelorusskiyeOboi" holding products management company Gomel Rechitsa Open Joint Stock Company Sludge 8 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Rechitsa Hardware Plant" storage wells, sludge pond, near concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, Molodusha settlement chlorides, sulfates, phosphate phosphorus, iron Gomel Rechitsa Branch "Rechitsa electrical Dump of 9 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district networks" of the Gomel republican technological wells, ash disposal map concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen,

50 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Local No of Region District Enterprise name monitoring Well purpose Measured parameters wells object type unitary enterprise "Gomelenergo" wastes chlorides, sulfates, phosphate phosphorus, iron Gomel Rechitsa Branch "Sovetskaya Belorussia" Agricultural 9 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district of the open joint-stock company irrigation fields wells, agricultural irrigation concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, "Rechitsa plant of grain products" fields nitrite nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus Gomel Dobrush Closed Joint Stock Company Sludge 5 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Dobrush porcelain factory" platforms wells, filtration fields, the city concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, of Dobrush nitrite nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus Gomel Dobrush Waste disposal site in Dobrush Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, water salinity, region district solid municipal wells, SMW landfill in concentration of ammonium ion (in terms of nitrogen), waste (SMW) Dobrush, in the north-west, nitrate ion (in terms of nitrogen), sulfate ion 0.5 km from Dobrush Gomel Gomel Communal production unitary Sludge 8 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Gomelvodokanal" platforms wells, silt maps, near Uza concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, settlement nitrate nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus, chlorides Gomel Dobrush Primary trade union Industrial 5 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district organization"Vysokopole", waste landfill wells, industrial waste landfill concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, Vysokopole settlement "Vysokopole", near phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil Vysokopole settlement products BYPRGW0005 – Water-bearing super-moraine fluvioglacial aquifer (fIIds) Gomel Gomel Open joint-stock company Agricultural 20 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Sovkhoz-combine" Sozh" irrigation fields wells, agricultural irrigation concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, fields, near Novaya Guta nitrite nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus settlement Gomel Lelchitsy Municipal production unitary Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Lelkom" solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, waste (SMW) Zherelets tract phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products BYDNGW0003 - Water-bearing super-moraine fluvioglacial aquifer (fIIds) Gomel Dobrush Municipal unitary enterprise Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Dobrushskykommunalnik" solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, waste (SMW) near Terekhovka phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Local No of Region District Enterprise name monitoring Well purpose Measured parameters wells object type Gomel Loev Municipal housing unitary Landfills for 4 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Loyevsky solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, 3 km concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, rayzhilkomhoz" waste (SMW) from Loev to the west phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products BYPRGW0006 – Water-bearing Paleogene and Neogene complex (P+N) Brest Drogichin Municipal unitary multisectoral Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district industrial enterprise of housing solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and communal services waste (SMW) Semenovshchina phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil "Drogichin housing and communal products services" Brest Luninets Municipal unitary multisectoral Landfills for 6 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district industrial enterprise of housing solid municipal wells, SMW landfill concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and communal services "Luninets waste (SMW) (city of Luninets), phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil housing and communal services" Rakitno, 6 km east of products Luninets Brest Luninets Municipal unitary multisectoral Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district industrial enterprise of housing solid municipal wells, SMW landfill concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and communal services waste (SMW) Lakhva (1 km to the west phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil "Mikashevichi housing and np Lakhva) products communal services" Brest Pinsk Brest Republican Unitary Sludge 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district Enterprise of Electric Power storage wells, sludge dump, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, Industry "Brestenergo" Pinsk, industrial zone of the chlorides, sulfates, phosphate phosphorus, iron enterprise Brest Pinsk Municipal unitary production Landfills for 5 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Housing and solid municipal wells, SMW landfill concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, communal services" in Pinsk waste (SMW) (Pinsk), phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil Vulka Gorodischenskaya products Brest Pinsk Municipal unitary multisectoral Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district industrial enterprise "Pinsk district solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, housing and communal services" waste (SMW) Logishin phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Brest Pinsk Municipal production unitary Treatment 5 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Pinskvodokanal" facilities wells, sludge pads of concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen,

52 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Local No of Region District Enterprise name monitoring Well purpose Measured parameters wells object type treatment facilities 1.1 km phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil from the city of Pinsk products Brest Stolin Municipal unitary multisectoral Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district industrial enterprise of housing solid municipal wells, SMW landfill concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and communal services "Stolin waste (SMW) (David-Gorodok - Olshany) phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil housing and communal services" products BYDNGW0004– Water-bearing Paleogene and Neogene complex (P+N) Gomel Bragin Communal housing unitary Industrial 4 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Braginskoe" waste landfill wells, toxic industrial waste concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, landfill, phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil near Petritskoe products Gomel Gomel Open Joint Stock Company Dump of 17 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Gomel Chemical Plant" technological wells, phosphogypsum dump concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, wastes within the industrial site of phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil the organization products Gomel Gomel Open joint-stock company Agricultural 20 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Sovkhoz-combine" Sozh" irrigation fields wells, agricultural irrigation concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, fields, near Novaya Guta nitrite nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus Gomel Gomel Municipal Unitary Enterprise Landfills for 4 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Spetskommuntrans" solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, 5th km concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, waste (SMW) of Rechitskiy Avenue phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Gomel Republican Subsidiary Unitary Storage 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district Enterprise for the provision of oil warehouse for wells, Rechitsa oil storage concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, products "Belorusneft- petroleum warehouse phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil Gomeloblnefteprodukt" products products Gomel Dobrush Branch "Dobrush paper factory" Sludge 8 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district Hero of Labor "of the open joint- platforms wells, filtration fields, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, stock company" Khvoinitskoye tract nitrate nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus, chlorides BelorusskiyeOboi" holding management company Gomel Dobrush Municipal unitary enterprise Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Dobrushskykommunalnik" solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen,

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Local No of Region District Enterprise name monitoring Well purpose Measured parameters wells object type waste (SMW) Terekhovka phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Loev Municipal housing unitary Landfills for 4 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Loyev district housing solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, 3 km concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, committee" waste (SMW) from Loev to the west phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Narovlya Municipal Unitary Enterprise Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Zhilkomstroy", Narovlya solid municipal wells, SMW landfill within the concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, waste (SMW) city of Narovlya phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products BYPRGW0006 – Water-bearing Paleogene and Neogene complex (P+N) Gomel Elsk Municipal housing and operational Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district unitary enterprise "Yelskoe" solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, waste (SMW) near Vishenki phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Lelchitsy Municipal production unitary Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Lelkom" solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, waste (SMW) Zherelets tract phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Mozyr Communal housing unitary Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Mozyr district housing solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, committee" waste (SMW) Provtyuki settlement phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Mozyr Open Joint Stock Company Treatment 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Mozyr Oil Refinery" facilities wells, radial sedimentation concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, tanks, industrial site territory chlorides, sulfates, phosphate phosphorus, iron Gomel Mozyr Open Joint Stock Company Sludge 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Mozyr Oil Refinery" platforms wells, sludge storage pads concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Mozyr Open Joint Stock Company Dump of 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Mozyr Oil Refinery" technological wells, waste dump concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, wastes chlorides, sulfates, phosphate phosphorus, iron

54 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Local No of Region District Enterprise name monitoring Well purpose Measured parameters wells object type Gomel Mozyr Branch "Mozyr CHP" of the Gomel Sludge 25 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district Republican Unitary Enterprise of storage wells, sludge disposal maps, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, the Electric Power Industry industrial zone of the chlorides, sulfates, phosphate phosphorus, iron "Gomelenergo" enterprise Gomel Mozyr Communal agricultural unitary Agricultural 5 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "State farm-combine" irrigation fields wells, agricultural irrigation concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, Zarya" fields, Guriny settlement nitrite nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus, chlorides Gomel Mozyr Open Joint Stock Company and others 8 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Beltransgaz" wells, water brine complex of concentration of oil products, chlorides, sulfates, MolodechnoDepartment of Drilling the Mozyr underground sodium Operations storage, brine storage, Matrunki Gomel Narovlya Municipal Unitary Enterprise Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Zhilkomstroy", Narovlya solid municipal wells, SMW landfill within the concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, waste (SMW) city of Narovlya phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products BYDNGW0004– Water-bearing Paleogene and Neogene complex (P+N) Gomel Rechitsa Open Joint Stock Company Sludge 8 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Rechitsa Hardware Plant" storage wells, sludge accumulator, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, near Molodusha settlement chlorides, sulfates, phosphate phosphorus, iron Gomel Rechitsa Branch "Rechitsa electrical Dump of 9 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district networks" of the Gomel republican technological wells, ash disposal map concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, unitary enterprise "Gomelenergo" wastes chlorides, sulfates, phosphate phosphorus, iron Gomel Rechitsa Branch "Sovetskaya Belorussia" Agricultural 9 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district of the open joint-stock company irrigation fields wells, agricultural irrigation concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, "Rechitsa plant of grain products" fields nitrite nitrogen, phosphate phosphorus Gomel Dobrush Closed Joint Stock Company Sludge 5 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district "Dobrush porcelain factory" platforms wells, filtration fields, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, Dobrush phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Dobrush Waste disposal site in Dobrush Landfills for 3 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, water salinity, region district solid municipal wells, SMW landfill, concentration of ammonium ion (in terms of nitrogen), waste (SMW) Dobrush, in the north-west, nitrate ion (in terms of nitrogen), sulfate ion

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Local No of Region District Enterprise name monitoring Well purpose Measured parameters wells object type 0.5 km from Dobrush Gomel Gomel Municipal production unitary Sludge 8 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district enterprise "Gomelvodokanal" platforms wells, silt maps, Uza concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, settlement phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil products Gomel Dobrush Primary trade union Industrial 5 Background and observation Water level, temperature, pH, dry residue, region district organization"Vysokopole", waste landfill wells, industrial waste landfill concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, Vysokopole settlement "Vysokopole", Vysokopole phosphate phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, oil settlement products

Thus, according to the available information, in the transboundary sub-parts of the Pripyat basin, the total number of sites (operating) where groundwater monitoring is carried out is 84 wells, including 28 wells for hydrogeological posts and 56 wells for water intakes (groundwater deposits). In addition, monitoring observations are carried out at 28 enterprises (objects) of local groundwater monitoring. In the transboundary sub-parts of the Dnieper basin, the total number of sites (operating) where groundwater monitoring is carried out is 154 wells, of which: 9 wells of hydrogeological posts and 140 wells of water intakes (groundwater deposits). In addition, monitoring observations are carried out at 29 enterprises (objects) of local groundwater monitoring - 29. The following is a brief description of the existing network for monitoring the quantity and quality of groundwater in the transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper basins for each water body. Statistical information on the number of wells where monitoring observations were carried out are pre- sented as of 01.01.2019.

56 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

6.1 Existing monitoring network of the transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0001 (Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0001 groundwater bodies (Dnieper river)

In natural (slightly disturbed) conditions within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0001, there are currently 5 groundwater monitoring points. Observations were carried out in 2019 in terms of quantitative and qualitative indicators. Previously, there was no observation network in this area. All these wells were equipped and tested as part of Lot 1 in 2019 (Figure 95). Groundwater monitoring is not carried out within the boundaries of the transboundary sub- part of the BYDNGW0001 groundwater body (Figure 95). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0001, there are currently 5 groundwater monitoring points. Observations were carried out in 2019 in terms of quantitative and qualitative indicators. Previously, there was no observation network in this area. All these wells were equipped and tested as part of Lot 1 in 2019. Under conditions disturbed by operation, groundwater monitoring is not carried out, because this water body is not exploited. Groundwater monitoring is not carried out because this GWB is not exploited. Local monitoring sites are absent.

Figure 95: Existing groundwater monitoring network within the transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0001 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0001 (the Dnieper river)

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

6.2 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0002 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0002 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies

In natural (slightly disturbed) conditions within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0002, there are 3 hydrogeological posts, 2 of which are operating and 1 is abandoned. These hydrogeological posts include 8 observation wells, of which 3 are operating and 5 are abandoned. The observations for the hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0002 of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins were carried out at 2 hydrogeological posts (3 observation wells). Chemistry and quality observations were not carried out. There are 3 operating water intakes within the territories in disturbed operating conditions. Re- gime observations are not carried out. The total number of local monitoring points located within technogenic facilities (chemical, oil- extracting industry, agricultural activities, public utilities, etc.) is 8 (Figure 106). In natural (slightly disturbed) conditions within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYDNGW0002, there are 3 hydrogeological posts. These hydrogeological posts include 8 observation wells, of which 6 are operating and 2 are abandoned. The observations for the hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYDNGW0002 of the Dnieper river basin were carried out at 3 hydrogeological posts (6 observation wells). Chemistry and quality observations were not carried out. There are 2 operating water intakes within the territories in disturbed operating conditions. Re- gime observations are not carried out. The regime network consists of 13 observation wells, of which 10 are active and 3 are abandoned. The observations for the hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYDNGW0002 of the Dnieper river basin were carried out at 2 water intakes (10 observation wells). Observations for the chemical composition and quality were carried out at 2 water intakes (6 observa- tion wells). The total number of local monitoring points located within technogenic facilities (chemical, oil- extracting industry, agricultural activities, public utilities, etc.) is 12 (Figure 106).

58 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Figure 106: Existing groundwater monitoring network within the transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0002 (the Pripyat) and BYDNGW0002 (the Dnieper) groundwater bodies

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

6.3 Transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0005 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0003 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies

In natural (slightly disturbed) conditions within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0005, there is 1 operating hydrogeological post. This hydrogeological post includes 3 observation wells, of which 2 are operating and 1 is abandoned. Observations for the hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0005 of the Pripyat river basin were carried out at 1 hydrogeological post (2 observation wells). Quality observations were not carried out. Under conditions disturbed by operation, groundwater monitoring is not carried out. Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0005, there is 1 local monitoring points located within the facility of public utility (Figure 117). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0003 groundwater body, groundwater monitoring in natural and disturbed conditions is not carried out. There are 3 local moni- toring points located within the technogenic objects.

Figure 117: Existing groundwater monitoring network within the transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0005 (the Pripyat river) and BYPRGW0003 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies

60 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

6.4 Transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0006 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0004 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies

In natural (slightly disturbed) conditions within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0006, there are 9 operating hydrogeological posts, of which 8 are operat- ing and 1 is abandoned. These hydrogeological posts include 19 observation wells, of which 13 are operating and 6 are abandoned. Observations for the hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0006 of the Pripyat river basin were carried out at 8 hydrogeological posts (13 observation wells). Quality monitoring was carried out at 2 hydrogeological stations (2 observation wells). 4 water intakes are located under conditions disturbed by operation, of which 3 are operating and 1 is not being developed. The regime network consists of 9 observation wells, of which 5 are operating and 2 are abandoned. Monitoring observations are carried out only at 1 water intakes (7 wells). The observations for the chemical composition and quality were carried out at 2 water intakes (5 observa- tion wells). The total number of local monitoring points located within anthropogenic facilities (chemical, oil- producing industries, agricultural activities, public utilities, etc.) is 18 (Figure 128). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0004 groundwater body in natu- ral (slightly disturbed) conditions, there are 2 operating hydrogeological posts. These hydrogeological posts include 2 operating observation wells. Due to the hydrodynamic regime and the quality of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0004 groundwater body of the Dnieper river basin the obser- vations were carried out at 2 hydrogeological posts (2 observation wells). There are 8 operating water intakes in the disturbed operating conditions. The regime network con- sists of 43 observation wells, of which 28 are operating and 15 are abandoned. Monitoring observa- tions are carried out only at 4 water intakes (28 wells). For the hydrodynamic regime of the trans- boundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYDNGW0004 of the Dnieper river basin the observations were carried out at 4 water intakes (28 observation wells). The observations for the chemical composi- tion and quality were carried out at 2 water intakes (10 observation wells). The total number of local monitoring points located within anthropogenic facilities (chemical, oil- producing industries, agricultural activities, public utilities, etc.) is 15 (Figure 128).

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Figure 128: Existing groundwater monitoring network within the transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0006 (the Pripyat river) и BYDNGW0004 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies

6.5 Transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0007 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0005 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies

In natural (slightly disturbed) conditions within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0007, there are 4 operating hydrogeological posts, of which 3 are operat- ing and 1 is abandoned. These hydrogeological posts include 6 observation wells, of which 4 are op- erating and 2 are abandoned. Observations for the hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0007 of the Pripyat river basin were carried out at 3 hydrogeological posts (4 observation wells). Quality observations were carried out at 1 hydrogeological station (1 observation well). 4 water intakes are located under conditions disturbed by operation, of which 3 are operating and 1 is not being developed. These water intakes include 9 observation wells, of which 5 are operating and 4 are abandoned. Monitoring observations are carried out only at 2 water intakes (5 wells). Observations for the hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0007 of the Pripyat river basin were carried out at 2 water intakes (5 observation wells). Quality monitoring was carried out at 2 water intakes (10 observation wells). Local monitoring sites are absent (Figure 191319). Within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0005 groundwater body in natu- ral (slightly disturbed) conditions, there is 1 operating hydrogeological post (1 operating well). The hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0005 groundwater body of the

62 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Dnieper River basin was monitored at 1 hydrogeological post (1 observation well). Quality monitoring was not carried out. 6 operating water intakes are located in disturbed operating conditions. These water intakes in- clude 144 observation wells, of which 102 are operating and 42 are abandoned. Monitoring observa- tions are carried out only at 4 water intakes (102 wells). The hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the BYDNGW0005 groundwater body of the Dnieper river basin was monitored at 4 water intakes (102 observation wells). Quality monitoring was carried out at 4 water intakes (70 observation wells). There are no local monitoring points (Figure 191319).

Figure 1913: Existing groundwater monitoring network within the transboundary sub-parts of BYPRGW0007 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0005 (the Dnieper river) groundwater bodies

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

6.6 Transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0009 (the Pripyat river)

In natural (slightly disturbed) conditions within the boundaries of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0009, there is 1 hydrogeological post, including 1 operating well. Observations for the hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0007 of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins were carried out at 1 hydrogeological post (1 observation well). Quality observations were carried out at 1 hydrogeological post (1 observation well). 7 water intakes are located in disturbed operating conditions, of which 6 are operating and 1 is not being developed. The regime network consists of 60 observation wells, of which 44 are operating and 16 are abandoned. Monitoring observations are carried out only at 2 water intakes (44 wells). Observations for the hydrodynamic regime of the transboundary sub-part of the groundwater body BYPRGW0007 of the Pripyat river basin were not carried out at. Quality and chemical monitoring was carried out at 2 water intakes (44 observation wells). Local monitoring sites are absent (Figure 140).

Figure 140: Existing groundwater monitoring network within the transboundary sub-parts of GWB BYPRGW0009 (the Pripyat river)

64 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

7 PROPOSED GROUNDWATER MONITORING NETWORK AND DATA EXCHANGE

7.1 Proposed new monitoring sites

To intensify transboundary interaction, improve the groundwater monitoring system and data ex- change within the framework of the project, proposals have been prepared for reorganizing the moni- toring network for transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat basins within the territory of Belarus. To develop proposals for monitoring, the following studies were carried out: 1. Within the identified transboundary sub-parts of water bodies, an assessment of geological and hydrogeological factors (hydrogeological parameters, lithology of rocks, location, etc.) 2. The analysis of the information content of monitoring was carried out depending on the num- ber of potential pollutants (pollution sources), as well as on the number of available monitoring points (hydrogeological posts, water intakes, local monitoring points) within each of the 6 iden- tified transboundary sub-parts of water bodies. 3. For proposals for the creation of new transboundary observation points, the following factors were taken into account: - within the limits of each identified transboundary sub-parts of water bodies, at least five observation points should be located; - the regime network should be optimized to obtain information on the hydrodynamic and hydrogeochemical groundwater state; - in accordance with the main types of hydrodynamic groundwater flows and typical condi- tions for the formation of the groundwater balance, observation points are located on all the main geomorphological elements - interfluves, slopes, terraces and riverine areas; - according to the WFD, wells should be located in all transboundary sub-parts of water bodies in order to obtain an optimized spatial distribution of information sources about the recharge and discharge groundwater zones; - observation points should be located on the area in accordance with the hydrodynamic structure of groundwater flows; - the availability of information on land use (for example, settlements, industry, forest, agri- cultural use); - the location of the observation point (accessibility, safety requirements for sampling, the possibility of access); - the possibility of observing transboundary water bodies [5]. As a result of the performed work, the following optimization of the monitoring network for transbound- ary sub-parts of groundwater bodies of the river Dnieper and Pripyat basins within the territory of Bela- rus is proposed (Table 11 and Table 12).

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Table 11: Proposed optimization of the monitoring network for transboundary sub-parts of GWBs in the Pripyat river basin within the territory of Belarus

GWB code Proposals for monitoring network To include in the regime network and continue observations of 5 wells equipped in 2019. BYPRGW0001 To equip 2 new observation wells in the southernmost part of the transboundary territory of the Pripyat river basin. To continue monitoring observations of 3 operating wells in the natural regime (2 hydrogeological posts). To drill 2 new observation wells in the southern part of the BYPRGW0002 transboundary territory of the Pripyat river. To renew observations at 2 wells of the abandoned Lomach hydrogeological post, surveyed in 2019. To continue monitoring observations of 2 operating wells according to the natural regime BYPRGW0005 (Stolin hydrogeological post). To drill 2 new observation wells in the southern part of the transboundary territory in the Pripyat river basin. To continue monitoring observations of 13 operating wells in a natural regime (8 hydrogeological posts) and 7 wells at 1 water intakes (disturbed regime). To connect to BYPRGW0006 the regime network and renew observations at 2 wells of the abandoned Lomach hydrogeological post, surveyed in 2019. To continue monitoring observations of 4 operating wells in a natural regime (3 hydrogeological stations) and 2 water intakes (5 wells). To include in the regime network BYPRGW0007 and resume observations at 1 well of the abandoned Lomach hydrogeological post, surveyed in 2019. To continue monitoring observations of 1 observation wells in the natural regime (Parakhon hydrogeological post) and 2 water intakes (annual rotation of 20-25 wells). To BYPRGW0009 drill 1 new observation well in the extreme south of the transboundary territory with Ukraine.

Table 12: Proposed optimization of the monitoring network for transboundary sub-parts of GWBs in the Dnieper river basin within the territory of Belarus

GWB code Proposals for monitoring network To conduct additional studies in the southernmost part of the transboundary territory of BYDNGW0001 the Dnieper river basin in order to clarify the availability of wells or equipment for new wells. To continue monitoring observations on 6 operating wells in a natural regime (3 hydrogeological posts). To drill 1 new observation well in the southern part of the BYDNGW0002 transboundary territory of the Dnieper river. To continue monitoring observations at 10 wells of 2 water intakes. To drill 1 new observation well in the southern part of the transboundary territory in the BYDNGW0003 Dnieper. To continue monitoring observations of 2 operating wells in a natural regime (2 BYDNGW0004 hydrogeological posts) and 28 wells at 4 water intakes (disturbed regime). To continue monitoring observations of 1 operating well in a natural mode (1 BYDNGW0005 hydrogeological post) and 4 water intakes (annual rotation of 30-35 wells).

Schematic maps of the proposed monitoring network for each transboundary sub-part of water bodies (taking into account existing and proposed observation points for drilling) are presented in the follow- ing six figures.

66 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Figure 151: Proposed new monitoring sites for the transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0001 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW001 (the Dnieper river) groudwater bodies

Figure 162: Proposed new monitoring sites for the transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0002 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0002 (the Dnieper river) groundwater body

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Figure 173: Proposed new monitoring sites for the transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0005 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0003 (the Dnieper river) groundwater body

Figure 184: Proposed new monitoring sites for the transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0006 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0004 (the Dnieper river) groundwater body

68 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Figure 195: Proposed new monitoring sites for the transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0007 (the Pripyat river) and BYDNGW0005 (the Dnieper river) groundwater body

Figure 206: Proposed new monitoring sites for the transboundary sub-part of BYPRGW0009 (the Pripyat river)

The list of joint observation points for the identified transboundary GWBs will be determined after agreement with the Ukrainian side (currently there is no information on the number and location of monitoring points from the Ukrainian side).

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

7.2 General organizational issues of groundwater monitoring in the transboundary territory of Belarus and Ukraine

The main purpose of groundwater monitoring in the transboundary territory of Belarus and Ukraine is to exchange regular information on the status of groundwater to assess changes in its quality and quantity in the basins of the Pripyat and Dnieper rivers. At present, there is an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the joint use and protection of transboundary waters, signed on October 16, 2001. Within the framework of this Agree- ment, a Technical Protocol on the exchange of information on the quality of transboundary surface and groundwaters between the State Water Agency Resources of Ukraine and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, which sets out the main organi- zational issues of monitoring transboundary waters:  The program of observation, analysis and assessment of the state of transboundary surface and groundwater, changes in their quality, agreed upon by the authorized representatives of the Governments of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine for the implementation of the Agreement on September 6, 2019;  List of monitored indicators;  criteria for assessing the results of observations;  possibilities and time frames of joint water sampling;  place and time of joint sampling of transboundary waters (currently, joint water sampling is car- ried out only for surface waters);  carrying out inter-laboratory comparison analyzes (currently, comparison analyzes are carried out only for surface waters);  timing of information exchange on the ecological state of transboundary waters,  issues of information exchange in cases of emergency.

7.3 Observation frequency and parameters

According to the previously mentioned Technical Protocol (Appendix 2 to the Protocol), the Belarusian and Ukrainian parties must conduct observations on the following list of indicators (Table 13). According to the Program of observations, analysis and assessment of the state of transboundary groundwater, changes in their quality, agreed by the authorized representatives of the governments of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine for the implementation of the Agreement, the following frequency of observations was established:  according to hydrogeological indicators (water level) at least once a year;  according to hydrochemical indicators (quality) at least once every 3 years.

70 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Table 13: List of hydrochemical and hydrogeological indicators for monitoring the status of transboundary groundwater bodies

Indicators Hydrogeological water level pH value total water hardness total mineralization (dry residue) chlorides (Cl−) 2− sulphates (SO4 ) − bicarbonate ion (НСО3 ), − nitrate ion (NO3 ) Hydrochemical + ammonium ion (NH4 ) − nitrite ion (NO2 ) sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) calcium (Ca2+) magnesium (Mg2+) iron (Fe in total)

7.4 Proposed monitoring data exchange template

On the basis of jointly performed works on delimitation (delineation) of groundwater bodies and identi- fication of transboundary aquifers in the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins, within the framework of the international technical assistance projects "Water Plus for the Eastern Partnership Countries" (2019- 2020), we propose the following template for the exchange of information on the monitoring and char- acteristics of the main transboundary groundwater bodies in the transboundary territory of Belarus and Ukraine (Table 14). Further, this template can be adjusted by agreement between the Belarusian and Ukrainian sides.

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

Table 14: Template for the exchange of information on the monitoring and characteristics of major transboundary GWBs in the transboundary territory of Belarus and Ukraine

Code and name Desig- Thickness of Absolute GW level Mineraliz Type of Components Number Hydro- Water of a GWB, nated the GWB, mark of GW head above ation chemical of natural of obser- chemical abstraction lithological use [from - to, m] level the overlying [from - groundwater origin, with a vation groundwater composition of [from - to, m] layer to, composition concentration points indicators water-bearing [from - to, m] g/dm3] higher than rocks the MPC 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

72 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

8 OUTPUTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

8.1 Outputs

As a result of the studies performed, the following was achieved: 1. The designated transboundary GWBs in the Dnieper river basin and the corresponding GWBs in Ukraine have been identified and characterized. For this, general information about the territory of the Dnieper river basin was collected and analyzed. It is noted that this territory is characterized by the presence of significant volumes of natural resources (various types of minerals, land, water and forest resources), has a great industrial potential and is one of the highly developed industrial regions of Belarus. The geomorphological features, geological and hydrogeological conditions, resource poten- tial, demographic situation, significant ecosystems and possible anthropogenic impact are character- ized. The material on previously conducted research work was collected and systematized, including within the framework of the international project "Identification, characterization and delimitation of ground- water bodies in the Dnieper basin, Belarus", author Bernardas Paukstis, EPIRB project, 2014, as well as data geological and hydrogeological surveys, prospecting and exploration work on water, case studies and the publication of a series of hydrogeological maps. As a result of the work carried out, 5 transboundary groundwater bodies were identified in the Dnieper river basin in Belarus and the corresponding GWB in Ukraine, 3 of which are of Quaternary age (groundwater, free-flow waters: BYDNGW0001, BYDNGW0002, BYDNGW0003) and 2 are pre- Quaternary age (confined waters: BYDNGW0004, BYDNGW0005). A new code has been assigned to each identified water body. Table 15: Joint transboundary GWBs in the territory of Belarus and Ukraine

№ Groundwater body code ( Belarus) Groundwater body code (Ukraine) 1 BYDNGW0001 UAM5.1GW0001 2 BYDNGW0002 UAM5.1GW0002 and UAM5.1GW0006 3 BYDNGW0003 UAM5.1GW0003 4 BYDNGW0004 UAM5.1GW0012 and UAM5.1GW0013 5 BYDNGW0005 UAM5.1GW0014 and UAM5.1GW0019

A hydrogeological characteristic was given and maps of the distribution of each identified transbound- ary water body of the Dnieper river basin were compiled.

2.Transboundary sub-parts of GWBs in the basins of the Dnieper and Pripyat rivers in Belarus were identified and characterized. In the 2018 and 2019 projects, GWBs were considered only in the Pripyat River basin, and the Dnie- per was not included in this work. Within the framework of this project, parts of transboundary water bodies in the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins were identified and characterized in order to obtain a complete picture for the entire Dnieper river basin (from the Ukrainian and Belarusian sides). In order to identify and characterize transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat basin territories, we used the main criterion: we identified transboundary corridors in the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins at a distance of 50–55 km. from the state border. This distance was chosen to capture the area of recharge of aquifers and complexes of the zone of active water ex-

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

change (watersheds) and the area of groundwater discharge (river valleys). In addition, at this dis- tance to the border, there is an observation network for groundwater monitoring. As a result of the performed studies, transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins were identified. In general, in the Pripyat river basin their number coincides with the previously identified transboundary water bodies basins. However, in the groundwater body BYPRGW0006 we have adjusted the number of water bodies included in it, i.e. previously BY- PRGW0006 included the aquiferous Berezinsky-Dnieper water-glacial complex (Quaternary deposits) and the Paleogene and Neogene complex (pre-Quaternary deposits). Due to the fact that the water- bearing Berezinsky-Dnieper water-glacial complex is not transboundary with Ukraine, we excluded it from BYPRGW0006. In the Dnieper river basin, 5 transboundary sub-parts were allocated. New codes were assigned to all of them: BYDNGW0001, BYDNGW0002, BYDNGW0003, BYDNGW0004, BYDNGW0005. The typification of technogenic objects (loads) of transboundary sub-parts of groundwater bodies by the nature of the impact on fresh groundwater of the Pripyat and Dnieper was carried out. The follow- ing technogenic objects were identified: groundwater deposits, land reclamation facilities, agricultural facilities, industrial facilities, utility facilities, peat processing facilities.

3. A brief description of the existing network for monitoring the groundwater quantity and quality in transboundary sub-parts was given. Information on the existing groundwater monitoring network of transboundary sub-parts of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins was collected and analyzed. It was found that the monitoring network is located unevenly in relation to the area of each water body. In some water bodies, the number of monitoring wells is extremely insufficient to perform an objective analysis of the quality and quantity of groundwater within the transboundary sub-parts. Tables of statistical information on the existing monitoring network were compiled, including hydrogeo- logical stations and water intakes on transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat and Dnie- per river basins, including the wells that were surveyed as part of Lot 2 of the project carried out in 2019-2020. It was found that the most representative monitoring network operates in the areas of lo- cation of transboundary water bodies BYPRGW0006 and BYPRGW0007 in the Pripyat river basin and BYDNGW0004 and BYDNGW0005 in the Dnieper river basin. A complete list of local monitoring objects on transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper basins was compiled. As a result of the work performed, it was established that, according to the available information, in the transboundary sub-parts of the Pripyat basin, the total number of sites (operating) where groundwa- ter monitoring is carried out is 84 wells, of which: 28 wells of hydrogeological posts and 56 wells of water intakes (fields groundwater). In addition, monitoring observations are carried out at 28 enterpris- es (objects) of local groundwater monitoring. In the transboundary sub-parts of the Dnieper basin, the total number of sites (operating) where groundwater monitoring is carried out is 154 wells, of which: 9 wells of hydrogeological posts and 140 wells of water intakes (groundwater deposits). In addition, monitoring observations are carried out at 29 enterprises (objects) of local groundwater monitoring. Information on the number of operating and abandoned posts, water intakes, local monitoring objects, as well as statistical data on the number of wells where monitoring observations of the chemical com- position and quality and level regime of groundwater are carried out in the transboundary sub-parts of the territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper rivers for each water body. It was established that the number of wells from which samples are taken to determine the chemical groundwater composition is extreme- ly small and insufficient for an objective determination of the groundwater status.

74 Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

4. Proposals for monitoring optimization (monitoring sites, frequency, parameters) and a template for the exchange of monitoring data were given. The reorganized groundwater monitoring network should include the already existing monitoring infra- structure and new monitoring wells. It was proposed to drill 9 wells, of which:  2 new observation wells in the extreme southern part of the transboundary territory of the Pri- pyat river at GWB BYPRGW0001;  2 new observation wells in the southern part of the transboundary territory of the Pripyat river basin at GWB BYPRGW0002 and 1 observation well in the Dnieper basin at GWB BYDNGW0002;  3 new observation wells in the southern part of the transboundary territory (2 wells in the Pripyat river basin at GWB BYPRGW0005 and 1 well in the Dnieper river basin at GWB BYDNGW0003);  1 new observation well in the southernmost part of the transboundary territory with Ukraine at GWB BYPRGW0005 in the Pripyat river basin. It was also recommended to continue monitoring studies at the existing operating observation points and observation points surveyed (equipped) within the framework of the project in 2019. In addition, general organizational issues of groundwater monitoring in the transboundary territory of Belarus and Ukraine were presented in accordance with the current Agreement between the Govern- ment of the Republic of Belarus and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the joint use and protection of transboundary waters. A list of hydrochemical and hydrogeological indicators for conducting observations of the state of transboundary groundwater bodies, as well as a template for the exchange of monitoring data, was provided. 5. A set of GIS maps was created with the identified transboundary sub-parts of water bodies in the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins. The maps show the boundaries of the distribution of transboundary sub-parts of water bodies in the 50-55 km zone from the border with Ukraine. 6. Sets of GIS maps were prepared with the existing and proposed network for groundwater monitor- ing on the territory of transboundary sub-parts of water bodies of the Dnieper and Pripyat rivers. The maps show observation points in the areas of hydrogeological posts, water intakes and objects of local groundwater monitoring. All works were carried out in close cooperation with Ukrainian experts.

8.2 Lessons learned

As a result of a detailed collection, analysis and generalization of the available stock, analytical mate- rial on geological-hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical, hydrodynamic, etc. and in the conditions of the study area, a number (list) of issues was identified, the solution of which will contribute to the devel- opment and harmonization of not only the groundwater monitoring system of the transboundary territo- ry of the Pripyat and Dnieper river basins, but also the groundwater monitoring system of the country as a whole. First of all, it is necessary:  to equip additionally groundwater monitoring points due to the uneven distribution of observa- tion wells for each groundwater body;

Transboundary sub parts of GWBs in Belarus

 to collect and process information on all objects of anthropogenic impact for a comprehensive understanding of the anthropogenic load on each groundwater body;  to equip observation wells with automatic level gauges, which in the future will be included in the regime network for monitoring groundwater in the transboundary territory of the Pripyat and Dnieper rivers;  tosystematize gradually the entire geological-hydrogeological, hydrodynamic and hydrogeochemical, coordinate, etc. information on groundwater of the basins of the Pripyat Dnieper River and transfer/convert into a geoinformation system;  to generalize hydrogeological information on transboundary water bodies (capacities, hydrogeological parameters, etc.) together with Ukrainian colleagues;  to unify the hydrogeological legends of the transboundary territories of Belarus and Ukraine;  to determine the list of groundwater monitoring points for water bodies within the borders of transboundary corridors from the Belarusian and Ukrainian sides with the aim of integrated joint management of transboundary water resources;  to develop and implement pilot projects that will be aimed at obtaining additional hydrodynamic and hydrogeochemical information, with an emphasis on the transboundary aspect for the pos- sibility of determining the quantitative and qualitative groundwater status in the transboundary territory of Belarus and Ukraine.

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9 REFERENCES

1. Geology of Belarus/ed.by A. Makhnach, R. Goretskiy, A. Matveev [and others] –Minsk: Institute of Geology. Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 2001. – 814p. 2. M. Kozlov. Hydrogeology of Pripyat Polesye, vol. II. Mn., "Science and Technology", 1977. – 272 p. 3. Explanatory note to a series of hydrogeological maps of the territory of Belarus at a scale of 1: 500,000 (State Enterprise "BelNIGRI") - Minsk: OOO Smeltok, 2010. – 162 p. 4. Mineral resources of Belarus: To the 75th anniversary of BelNIGRI/Editorial board: P. Khomich and others - Minsk: Adukatsyyaivyhavanne, 2002. – 528 p. 5. EUWI+ Project, Transboundary coordination of aquifers and groundwater bodies along the country's border with Ukraine in the Pripyat river basin in Belarus. O. Berezko, O. Vasneva, E. Cherevach, T. Kononova, O. Buinevich, I. Vitsen. Minsk, 2020. – 142 p. 6. EPIRB project, Identification, characterization and delineation of groundwater bodies in the Dnieper river basin in Belarus. BernardasPaukshtis (KE5 expert on groundwater), 2014 . – 35 p. 7. Development of the legend for the state hydrogeological maps: Report on R&D/RUE "RPCG"; head V. Shimanovich, Minsk, 2016. – 208 p. 8. The current state of underground sources of drinking water supply in the Dnieper basin. Ed. by L. Yazvin, V. Shestopalov and M. Cherepansky, Minsk. – 2004. 9. Transboundary Dnieper Basin Management: Pripyat Sub-Basin: monograph/ed. A. Obodovsky, A. Stankevich, S. Afanasyev. – K .: Department, 2012. – 448 p. 10. EPIRBP, River Basin Management Plan for Upper Dnieper pilot river basin in the territories of Bel- arus and Ukraine. Component A – River Basin Analysis (in English). Prepared by the Republican Cen- ter for Radiation Control and Environmental Monitoring (Belarus) and the Ukrainian Center of Envi- ronmental and Water Projects of Academy of Technological Sciences (Ukraine). March 2013. Availa- ble at: http://blacksea-riverbasins.net/ 11.http://m-h-s.org/stiftung/upload/pdf-downloadbar/Inventory_of_peatlands_BY_UA_RU_small.pdf

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