ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE WATER QUALITY IN ZHYTOMYR DISTRICT AND ITS SUITABILITY FOR AQUACULTURE

Abstract

Ensuring high surface water quality is one of the key prerequisites for the sustainable development of aquaculture, conservation of aquatic biodiversity, and rational management of water resources. Under conditions of increasing anthropogenic pressure, agricultural intensification, urbanization, and climate change, systematic environmental monitoring of surface waters has become an essential tool for identifying adverse ecological changes and developing scientifically based measures for the protection and sustainable use of aquatic ecosystems. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive environmental assessment of surface water quality in Zhytomyr District based on physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations, determine their compliance with current environmental standards, and evaluate the suitability of the investigated water bodies for aquaculture purposes. The study was carried out during 2025 at seven permanent monitoring sites located on the Teteriv, Kamianka, Huiva, and Hnylopiat rivers. Water samples were collected during four seasonal monitoring campaigns representing spring, summer, autumn, and pre-winter periods. Laboratory analyses included the determination of pH, total hardness, chloride concentration, and the content of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe). The obtained data were processed using methods of variation statistics with the calculation of arithmetic means and standard errors (M ± m). A comprehensive environmental assessment of water quality was performed in accordance with the current Ukrainian regulatory framework and internationally accepted approaches for surface water quality assessment. The results demonstrated that the investigated surface waters were characterized by a relatively stable hydrochemical regime. The pH values ranged from 7.65 to 8.28, total hardness varied between 4.13 and 7.61 meq/L, while chloride concentrations ranged from 29.63 to 43.55 mg/L. Heavy metal concentrations showed certain spatial variability; however, in most cases they corresponded to the levels typical of surface waters within the Polissia region. The greatest variability was observed for iron and manganese, which was associated with the natural geochemical characteristics of the catchment areas and local anthropogenic impacts. According to the integrated environmental assessment, most of the investigated water bodies were classified as having a good ecological status and were considered suitable for fisheries and aquaculture provided that systematic environmental monitoring is maintained. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the comprehensive assessment of the current ecological status of surface waters in Zhytomyr District based on the results of seasonal monitoring conducted in 2025 using an integrated set of physicochemical indicators and heavy metal concentrations. The practical significance of the obtained results consists in their application for state and industrial environmental monitoring, development of water protection measures, assessment of environmental risks, water resources management, and scientific support for the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Polissia region of Ukraine.