Utilization of pollution-free and renewable energy sources, including tidal energy was in a focus of the study aimed at assessing feasibility of electricity generation from the kinetic energy of the tidal waves and the kinetic energy of the charged particles (seawater ions) moving in the magnetic field. The developed model generator of the system of acting Kislogubskaya tidal power station in Murmansk region with implementation of MHD channel demonstrated economic viability of solution. A full-scale utilization of Kislogubskaya station would help to redistribute electricity surplus for residential heating purposes and increase the level of environmental safety. The environmental benefit of the proposed solution is associated with CO₂ emission reductions (727 t/year), which can bring additional income to the regional budget

The project goal was improvement of the rivers’ environmental monitoring using changes in enzymes’ activity in the surface waters, bottom sediments and hydrophytes. Activity of the following hydrolase enzymes has been researched: urease and oxide reductase (nitrate reductase and polyphenol oxydase). Enzyme activity was measured by spectrophotometry methods. The level of enzyme activity increases with the concentrations of substances which form the enzyme-substrate complexes with these enzymes. This level can indicate the presence of certain substances in the water reservoir and provide a measure for their concentrations. Activity of polyphenol oxydase, nitrate reductase and urease increased when the surface runoff and household waste waters containing nitrates and phenols entered the water reservoir. This scientifically sound method is available for replication.

A survey of Kondopoga residents showed that they preferred to drink spring water and bottled water, because it looked more transparent than tap water. This study confirmed that even visibly clear water might contain a lot of bacteria and unwanted chemicals in concentrations above the prescribed MPLs. The safest source of drinking water continues to be the tap water. Activity of daphnia may serve as an indicator of chemical pollution. Utilization of daphnia is economically profitable, because it costs almost 40 times less than a complex analysis of water quality.
Publications in local newspaper “New Kondopoga”, along with posting of public information boards near the springs, help to build up awareness of local residents about water quality.

The bioindication tests of water bodies with strong current should consider the drift propensity of the indicator species. The author identified 56 macrozoobenthos species in Nepryadva River, of which 32 species were able to drift. Invertebrate drift was typically observed only during specific time intervals. Some invertebrate groups drifted only during night-time, whereas others drifted during day and night. Specific features of invertebrate drift should be taken in account during evaluation of saprobic capacity of water reservoirs. The data on daily variations of drift activity was used to recommend the optimal time of the day for harvesting of bioindication samples. The collected scientific evidence can be used to predict the long-term changes in the state of benthic ecosystems.

A study of bacteriologic status of water reservoirs in Morozovsky district

The water quality in River Uvod was assessed using bioindication methods and water quality improvement measures were …