Water Quality of the Kharaa River Basin, Mongolia

Transcription

UNDP-GEF project
"Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Baikal Basin Transboundary Ecosystem"
Water Quality of the Kharaa
River Basin, Mongolia:
Pollution threats and hotspots assessment
Final report
with support of
The intellectual property rights belong to UNOPS and UNDP, the information should not be used by a third party before consulting with the
project.
UNDP-GEF project
GEF project “Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Baikal Basin
Transboundary Ecosystem” (Mongolia and Russia), 2011-2014
Technical report under Output 1.4 (pollution hotspot assessment)
Water Quality of the Kharaa River Basin, Mongolia: Pollution threats and hotspots
assessment (2013)
International executing partner for Output 1.4 (pollution hotspot assessment)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - UNESCO
©Batimaa, P., 2013
Figure 5. The Kharaa River at Baruunkharaa hydrological gauging station (21 July 2012)
Photo credits: Batimaa Punsalmaa and Mongolia Water Forum
project.
UNDP-GEF project
Water
Quality
of the
Kharaa
River
Water
Quality
of the
Kharaa
River
Basin,
Mongolia:
Basin,
Mongolia
Pollution
threats
and hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and hotspots
assessment
Final report
Editor:
Editor: Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa, UNESCO International Hydrological Programme
Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa, UNESCO
Prepared by:
Punsalmaa, Mongolia Water Forum - Uskhelts
Prepared Batimaa
by:
Erdenbayar
Yadamsuren,
Central
Laboratory
for Environment and Meteorology of Mongolia
Batimaa Punsalmaa, Mongolia
Water
Forum
- Uskhelts
Tumurstooj
Dashdorj,
of Meteorology,
Hydrology
and Environment of Mongolia
Erdenbayar
Yadamsuren,
CentralInstitute
Laboratory
for Environment
and Meteorology
Oyuntugs
Tserendendev,
National
Water
Committee
of
Mongolia
Tumurstooj Dashdorj, Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment
Batnasan, Mongolia Water Forum – Uskhelts
Oyuntugs Davaadalai
Tserendendev,
National Water Committee of Mongolia
Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa, UNESCO International Hydrological Programme
Davaadalai Batnasan, Mongolia Water Forum – Uskhelts
Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa, UNESCO (Paris, France)
with support of
Ulaanbaatar
2013
Ulaanbaatar
The intellectual property rights belong to UNOPS and UNDP, the
information should not be used by a third party before consulting with the
2013
project.
UNDP-GEF project
project.
UNDP-GEF project
This report presents results of water quality assessment of the Selenge River Basin (Mongolia),
with specific emphasis on assessment of pollution threats and pollution hotspots in the Kharaa
River Basin.
The study was conducted in the framework of UNESCO-executed activities under the UNDPGEF Project on “Integrated Natural Resources Management in the Baikal Basin Transboundary
Ecosystem” (Mongolia and Russia). The project objective is to spearhead integrated natural
resources management of Lake Baikal Basin, ensuring ecosystem resilience and reduced water
quality threats in the context of sustainable economic development. The project is executed by
UNOPS. UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) is an international executing
partner for the project.
This study was carried out by UNESCO, in collaboration with the National Water Committee of
Mongolia, Mongolia Water Forum-Uskhelts and a national team of experts. The study and report
preparation was coordinated by Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO.
The national team of experts was coordinated by Tsend Badrakh, National Water Committee of
Mongolia, and comprised the following experts: Batimaa Punsalmaa, Mongolia Water Forum
- Uskhelts; Erdenbayar Yadamsuren, Central Laboratory for Environment and Meteorology;
Tumurstooj Dashdorj, Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment; Oyuntugs
Tserendendev, National Water Committee of Mongolia; and Davaadalai Batnasan, Mongolia
Water Forum-Uskhelts. Tserendolgor Munkhtsetseg, Mongolia Water Forum - Uskhelts, assisted
in the preparation of the report for publishing.
Findings and recommendations of the study were discussed with relevant stakeholders at the
National Workshop “Selenge – A River without Borders”, organized by UNESCO in collaboration
with the National Water Committee and Ministry of Environment and Green Development of
Mongolia, which took place in the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar on 04 June 2013. The workshop
participants included representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Green Development,
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry and Agriculture, River Basin Authorities, research
institutions, universities, NGOs and the private sector. The key outcomes of the workshop
discussions were incorporated in this final report. The report also benefited from discussions at
the scoping meetings and workshops, organized by UNESCO in the framework of this study.
The publication of this report was made possible with the support of Sergey Kudelya, Project
Manager (Ulan-Ude, Russia), and Tumurchudur Sodnom, Technical Director (Mongolia), of the
GEF project “Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Baikal Basin Transboundary Ecosystem”.
Pollution
threats and hotspots assessment
project.
I
UNDP-GEF project
II
Water Quality of the Kharaa River Basin, Mongolia:
project.
UNDP-GEF project
Foreword by
Prime Minister of Mongolia
Throughout the human history, we, Mongolians,
valued the water as the basis of all existence on
the
Earth and the
Foreword
by unique treasure of the world.
The
Government
Mongolia
attaches great
Prime Ministerof of
Mongolia
importance to the protection and sustainable
use of this precious resource and, in particunew challenges
andresources
threats resulting
from
lar,
to establishing
an effective
and legal totransboundary
water
is essential.
Throughout
the human
history, policy
we, Mongolians,
change the
impacts
on water
resources. I
framework
water
resources
management.
Furthermore,
support
of international
valued the for
water
as the
basis of all
existence on climate
am
pleased
that
the
project
on
“Integrated
Natthe Earth and the unique treasure of the world. organizations is needed to strengthen
ResourcetoManagement
in challenges
the Baikal and
BaWater
is a special resource
that isattaches
not confined
cooperation
face up to new
The Government
of Mongolia
great ural
Transboundary
Ecosystem”,
implemented
toimportance
a country’stoterritory
or political
threats
resulting from
climate change
impacts
the protection
andboundaries.
sustainable sin
UN organizations,
responds
to this
Mongolia
is precious
located inresource
the heart
of Central
Asia, by
onvarious
water resources.
I am pleased
that the project
use of this
and,
in particular,
on “Integrated
Resource
Management
to establishing
an effective
policymany
and large
legal need
and to theNatural
goals that
the Mongolian
Govwhere
the headwaters
of world’s
in
the
Baikal
Basin
Transboundary
Ecosystem”,
framework
for
water
resources
management.
rivers are formed by runoff from numerous ernment has prioritized for sustainable use and
implementedofby
various
organizations,
natural
andUN
water
resources. I
springs, snowmelt and glaciers of the Mongo- management
responds
to
this
need
and
to
the
goals
that the
Water
is
a
special
resource
that
is
not
confined
lian mountains. Mongolians have a long tradi- would like to warmly congratulate the organizMongolian
Government
has
prioritized
for
to
a
country’s
territory
or
political
boundaries.
tion of conserving the purity of water resources ers and participants of the National Workshop
sustainable
use
and
management
of
natural
Mongolia
in the territory
heart ofand
Central
that
originateisinlocated
our country’s
flow entitled “Selenge—A River without Borders” for
Asia, where the headwaters of world’s and water resources. I would like to warmly
out to our neighboring countries. This tradition providing a platform to discuss the results of the
many large rivers are formed by runoff from congratulate the organizers and participants
has been preserved from generation to genera- project studies presented in this report on wanumerous springs, snowmelt and glaciers of of the National Workshop entitled “Selenge-A
tion
and has been enshrined in the Mongolian ter quality of the Kharaa River, which I consider
the Mongolian mountains. Mongolians have a River without Borders” for providing a platform
contribution
Baigovernment’s
on watertheresources
to important
discuss the
results of to
themaintain
project the
studies
long traditionpolicy
of conserving
purity of manwater an
kal
Basin
ecosystems
that
constitute
the
world’s
agement.
Mongolia
is
fully
engaged
in
internaresources that originate in our country’s territory presented in this report on water quality
freshwater
heritage.
tional
cooperation
our neighboring
counof the Kharaa
River, resource
which I and
consider
an
and flow
out to ourwith
neighboring
countries.
This magnificent
tries
on
fair,
equitable
and
sustainable
use
of
tradition has been preserved from generation important contribution to maintain the Baikal
share
the same
We the
live world’s
in the
transboundary
An example
Basin
ecosystems
thatrivers.
constitute
to generation water
and hasresources.
been enshrined
in the We
same
river
basin.
We
drink
water
from
the
magnificent
freshwater
resource
and
heritage.
isMongolian
our cooperation
with
the
Russian
Federagovernment’s policy on water
resources
management. Mongolia
is fully same rivers. Therefore, our common goal
tion
on the implementation
of the “Agreement
We share
theprotect
same rivers.
We live inwater
the same
in international
with must
be to
our precious
reonengaged
the Protection
and Usecooperation
of Transboundriver
basin.
We
drink
water
from
the
same
our
neighboring
countries
on
fair,
equitable
ary Waters”, which was signed between the sources and to use them sustainably to enrivers. the
Therefore,
our development
common goal and
must imbe
and sustainable
use two
of transboundary
water hance
country’s
governments
of our
countries in 1995.
to protect
our
precious
water
resources
and
to
resources. An example is our cooperation with prove
the living standard of our people.
use
them
sustainably
to
enhance
the
country’s
the
Russian
Federation
on
the
implementation
Our water resources are becoming scarcer due
the “Agreement on the Protection and Use development and improve the living standard
toofclimate
change. In view of climate change
of Transboundary Waters”, which was signed of our people.
impacts on water resources, international cobetween the governments of our two countries
operation
on fair and equitable use of transin 1995.
Norov Altankhuyag
boundary water resources is essential. FurtherPrime Minister of Mongolia
more,
support ofare
international
Watertheresources
becomingorganizations
scarcer due
isto
needed
strengthen
cooperation
to face
up Chairman, National Water
NorovCommittee
Altankhuyag
climatetochange.
In view
of climate
change
impacts on water resources, international
cooperation on fair and equitable use of
Prime Minister of Mongolia
Chairman, National Water Committee
*This Foreword is based on the message of the Prime Minister of Mongolia to the National Workshop “Selenge—A River
without Borders”, organized by UNESCO, National Water Committee and Ministry of Environment and Green Development of
*This Foreword
is based (State
on the Palace)
messageon
of 04
theJune
Prime
Minister of Mongolia to the National Workshop “Selenge-A River
Mongolia
in Ulaanbaatar
2013.
without Borders”, organized by UNESCO, National Water Committee and Ministry of Environment and Green Development of
Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar (State Palace) on 04 June 2013.
III
III
The
intellectual
property
rights belong to UNOPS and UNDP, the information should not be used by a third party before consulting with the
Pollution
threats
and hotspots
assessment
Pollution
project.
UNDP-GEF project
Table of Contents
List of Figures................................................................................................................... 5
List of Tables.................................................................................................................... 6
Acronyms ........................................................................................................................ 9
Executive summary........................................................................................................... 1
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................. 7
1.1. Background........................................................................................................... 8
1.2. Objectives of the study.......................................................................................... 10
1.3. Data and methodology.......................................................................................... 11
1.3.1. Monitoring sites............................................................................................... 11
1.3.2. Data................................................................................................................ 12
1.3.3. Methodology................................................................................................... 14
2. Water Resources of the Selenge River Basin, Mongolia................................................. 19
2.1. Hydrology............................................................................................................. 20
2.2. Hydrochemistry..................................................................................................... 20
2.3. Water quality......................................................................................................... 22
3. Water Quality Assessment of the Kharaa River Basin.................................................... 25
3.1. Hydrology and hydrogeology................................................................................ 26
3.1.1. Surface water.................................................................................................. 26
3.1.2. Groundwater................................................................................................... 28
3.2. Hydrochemistry..................................................................................................... 28
3.2.1. Major ions....................................................................................................... 29
3.2.2. Dissolved oxygen............................................................................................ 30
3.2.3. Biological Oxygen Demand............................................................................ 33
3.2.4. Nutrients......................................................................................................... 33
3.2.5. Metals............................................................................................................. 36
3.2.6. Suspended solids............................................................................................. 38
3.3. The Kharaa River water quality.............................................................................. 39
3.4. Aquatic ecology.................................................................................................... 39
3.5. Groundwater quality in the Kharaa River Basin..................................................... 43
4. Assessment of pollution hotspots in the Kharaa River Basin.......................................... 45
4.1. Pollution from urban areas.................................................................................... 46
4.1.1. Municipal wastewater..................................................................................... 46
4.1.2. Solid waste...................................................................................................... 50
4.2. Industrial pollution................................................................................................ 53
4.3. Mining................................................................................................................... 53
4.4. Agriculture............................................................................................................ 57
4.5. Pollution hotspots mapping................................................................................... 58
4.6. Environmental and health impacts......................................................................... 59
5. Conclusions and Recommendations............................................................................. 63
5.1. Conclusions........................................................................................................... 64
5.2. Recommendations................................................................................................. 68
References........................................................................................................................ 72
Annex............................................................................................................................... 74
Data analyses................................................................................................................... 75
IV project.
UNDP-GEF project
List of Figures
Figure 1. Map of the Lake Baikal Basin, shared between Mongolia and Russia .............. 9
Figure 2. The Confluence of the Selenge and Orkhon rivers (29 June 2009.................... 11
Figure 3. Water quality index at the Sukhbaatar of the Selenge River.............................. 23
Figure 4. Biotic Index results at three sites of the Selenge River...................................... 23
Figure 5. The Kharaa River at Baruunkharaa hydrological gauging station
(21 July 2012) ................................................................................................. 27
Figure 6. The Kharaa River Basin and water quality monitoring sites.............................. 27
Figure 7. Relationship between total dissolved salts and cations and anions
(Kharaa-Zuunkharaa upper)............................................................................. 29
Figure 8. Relationship between total dissolved salts and cations and anions
(Kharaa-Darkhan down).................................................................................. 30
Figure 9. Dissolved Oxygen concentration trends of the Kharaa River for the period
1985-2010...................................................................................................... 32
Figure 10. Biological oxygen demand concentration trend of the Kharaa River near
Darkhan city for the period 1985-2010........................................................... 33
Figure 11.Trends in NH4-N concentrations at Zuunkharaa and Darkhan
monitoring station........................................................................................... 35
Figure 12. Trends in NO3-N concentrations at Zuunkharaa and Darkhan monitoring
stations............................................................................................................ 35
Figure 13. Trends in PO4-P concentrations at Zuunkharaa and Darkhan
monitoring stations.......................................................................................... 36
Figure 14. Trends of Fe and Cr6+ at Zuunkharaa and Darkhan stations............................ 37
Figure 15. Trends of suspended solidsat Zuunkharaa and Darkhan stations...................... 38
Figure 16. Water quality of the Kharaa river at Zuunkharaa and Darkhan stations............ 39
Figure 17. Number of total individuals of Taxa and EPT................................................... 40
Figure 18. The Kharaa river water quality assessed by Biotic index................................... 41
Figure 19. Annual variation of the Kharaa river water quality assessed by Biotic index..... 41
Figure 20. Ecological assessment of the Kharaa River Basin ............................................. 42
Figure 21. The administrative units in the Kharaa River Basin........................................... 47
Figure 22. The Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant....................................................... 49
Figure 23. Wastewater treatment rate of the Darkhan WWTP........................................... 48
Figure 24. BOD concentrations of treatedwastewater of the Darkhan WWTP................... 48
Figure 25. Suspended solids concentrations in treated wastewater of the
Darkhan WWTP.............................................................................................. 49
Figure 26. Mining areas of the Kharaa River Basin............................................................ 54
Figure 27. The Boroo Gold mining site............................................................................. 55
Figure 28. The tailing facility of the Boroo mining............................................................ 56
Figure 29. Cropland area on the Kharaa River bank.......................................................... 57
Figure 30. Bornuur cropland farming near the Boroo River bank...................................... 58
Figure 31. Map of areas of concern (potential pollution hotspots) in the
Kharaa River Basin.......................................................................................... 59
Figure 32. Runoff forming and river bank protection zone................................................ 60
Pollution
project.
V
UNDP-GEF project
List of Tables
Table 1. Kharaa River monitoring stations and parameters............................................. 13
Table 2. Hydrobiological monitoring stations................................................................ 13
Table 3. Water quality classification.............................................................................. 15
Table 4. Macroinvertebrates Biotic Index...................................................................... 16
Table 5. Water quality classification.............................................................................. 16
Table 6. Hydrological parameters of rivers in the Selenge River and its tributaries......... 21
Table 7. Long-term mean concentration of major ions in the Selenge River and its
tributaries........................................................................................................ 21
Table 8. Long-term mean concentrations of chemical pollutants in the Selenge and its
tributaries........................................................................................................ 21
Table 9. Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera,Trichoptera individuals found in the Selenge river
and its tributaries............................................................................................. 22
Table 10. Summary analysis of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate at different stations in the
Selenge River and its tributaries....................................................................... 23
Table 11. Exploitable groundwater resources of the Kharaa River Basin.......................... 28
Table 12. Annual distribution of average concentrations of total dissolved salts, or
mineralization................................................................................................. 29
Table 13. Monthly mean concentrations of major ions of the Kharaa River..................... 31
Table 14. Annual distribution of dissolved oxygen concentrations................................... 32
Table 15. Monthly mean concentrations of ammonium of the Kharaa River.................... 34
Table 16. Concentrations of metals in the Kharaa River................................................... 36
Table 17. Heavy metals concentrations in the Kharaa River............................................ 37
Table 18. Monthly mean concentrations of suspended solids in the Kharaa River............ 38
Table 19. Groundwater quality parameters .................................................................... 43
Table 20. Quantities and composition of solid waste generated in Darkhan by source
category ......................................................................................................... 51
Table 21. Results of chemical analysis of the monitoring wells ....................................... 56
VI project.
UNDP-GEF project
Acronyms
BOD DO EPT FAO GEF IHP MAC MNET MNS NSA NSO OCHA TSS UNDP UNEP UNESCO UNIDO USAG WHO WQI WWTP Biological oxygen demand
Dissolved oxygen
Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera
Food and Agriculture Organization
Global Environment Facility
International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO
Maximum Acceptable Concentrations
Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism of Mongolia
Mongolia National Standard
National Standard Agency of Mongolia
National Statistics Office of Mongolia
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations
Total suspended solids
United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Environmental Programme
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Water Supply and Wastewater Company of Ulaanbaatar
World Health Organization
Water Quality Index
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Pollution
project.
VII
UNDP-GEF project
VIIIproject.
VIII
Water
Quality
ofofthe
Water
Quality
theKharaa
KharaaRiver
RiverBasin,
Basin,Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
Executive summary
Pollution
project.
©Batimaa, P., 2013
UNDP-GEF project
Mongolia has many beautiful freshwater
lakes and rivers. Some of the world’s major
rivers originate in Mongolia, including
Selenge River, Yenisei and Irtysh. Most
of Mongolia’s rivers are spread across the
northern part of the country, where the river
system is also most extensive. The Selenge
River is the largest river by volume of flow,
which is a major transboundary river in the
heart of Asia flowing to Lake Baikal, located
in Russia. About two-thirds of the surface
runoff leaves Mongolia. The largest lakes
of Mongolia, including Khuvsgul, Uvs and
Khar-Us, are located in the northern and
western regions of the country. Mongolia has
substantial groundwater resources, which
are unevenly distributed over the countryabundant in the north and very scarce, or
non-existent, in the south.
Driven by climate change, urbanization and
rapid economic growth, Mongolia’s water
resources are under increasing pressure.
Water resources of Mongolia are limited,
with the annual water reserves of 34.6
cubic kilometers-which is relatively low
compared to other countries. Yet, the per
capita annual renewable water availability
exceeds 10,000 cubic meters, which is more
than in most other countries in the world.
This seeming contradiction can be explained
by the country’s population density of only
1.8 persons per square kilometers, which is
the lowest in the world1. Despite the huge
amount of renewable water in the country, its
availability is unevenly distributed in space
and in time. Most of Mongolia’s territory lies
in arid and semi-arid regions, which makes
its water resources particularly vulnerable to
climatic and human pressures.
The Kharaa River Basin is one of the main
tributaries of the Orkhon-Selenge River
system. The Orkhon River originates in the
Khangai Mountains in central Mongolia and
flows northwards for 1,124 km before joining
the Selenge River, which empties into Lake
Baikal. The Orkhon River is the longest river
in Mongolia and the valley along the river is
an archaeologically-rich cultural landscape.
The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape has
been designated by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site.
The pollution of the Kharaa River Basin is
becoming a growing concern due to the high
vulnerability of the basin to urban and
industrial pollution from urban settlements
and large industrial operations located in
the basin. The Kharaa River Basin is shared
among three administrative regions, called
aimags (equivalent to provinces)-namely,
Selenge aimag, Tuv aimag and Darkhan-Uul
aimag. The basin also includes the rapidlygrowing industrial city of Darkhan, which is
thethird largest city with 74,738 inhabitants
(as of 2010)2. The entire population of the
Kharaa River Basin is about 133,000. The
Kharaa River Basin is under increasing
pressure from rapid urbanization, rising
water demand and climate change. The
upper basin is in a relatively pristine state
and has experienced minimal anthropogenic
impacts. The lower basin is characterized by
diverse economic activities such as industry,
agriculture and livestock breeding, which
may potentially have significant impacts on
the quantity and quality of water resources
of the basin. Furthermore, the basin provides
drinking water for the rapidly-growing city
of Darkhan, which water supplies largely
rely on alluvial aquifers containing shallowdepth groundwater, and the inhabitants of
small human settlements in the basin. Hence,
growing pressures from climate change and
anthropogenic activities on the Kharaa River
may become a matter of concern in securing
future water supplies in the area.
The assessment of water quality and water
pollution in the Selenge River Basin,
undertaken by this study, focused on a casestudy on pollution hotspots and pollution
threats in the Kharaa River Basin, including
urban water pollution in the city of Darkhan,
Mongolia.
Ministry of Environment and Green Development, 2012. Integrated Water Management Plan of Mongolia 2010-2021: A Brief
Introduction, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, December 2012.
1
Data from the National Statistical Office of Mongolia.
2
2
project.
UNDP-GEF project
The
main
were to
toassess
assessthe
thecurrent
current
The
mainobjectives
objectivesofofthis
this study
study were
state
water
quality
of the
Kharaa
River
Basin,
assess
state
of of
thethe
water
quality
of the
Kharaa
River
Basin,
assess
wapollution
from diffuse
andsources,
point sources,
identify
terwater
pollution
from diffuse
and point
identify pollution
pollution
hotspots
thedetermine
basin, andthedetermine
the main
hotspots
in the
basin,inand
main pressures
on
on theofwater
quality River,
of the with
Kharaa
River, withdea
thepressures
water quality
the Kharaa
a qualitative
qualitative
description
of
their
impacts.
The
study
focused
scription of their impacts. The study focused on: the survey of
on: the survey of water quality characteristics of the Kharaa
water
quality characteristics of the Kharaa River; the identifiRiver; the identification of anthropogenic impacts on the
cation of anthropogenic impacts on the river’s water quality;
river’s water quality; the identification of major threats
thetoidentification
of major threats to the water quality in the
the water quality in the basin; and the development of
basin;
and
the
development
of recommendations
on pollution
recommendations on pollution
prevention and control
in the
prevention
and Basin.
control in the Kharaa River Basin.
Kharaa River
The
water quality
qualityininthethe
Kharaa
River
Theassessment
assessmentofof the
the water
Kharaa
River
is is
based
bothboth
hydrochemical
and hydrobiological
parambasedon on
hydrochemical
and hydrobiological
eters.
The hydrochemical
assessmentassessment
is based on ishydrochemiparameters.
The hydrochemical
based on
data
by the Central
calhydrochemical
monitoring datamonitoring
collected by
the collected
Central Laboratory
for EnLaboratory
Environmentforand
thethrough
period
vironment
andforMeteorology
theMeteorology
period from for
1986
fromThe
1986hydrobiological
through 2011. The
hydrobiological
is
2011.
assessment
is based assessment
on macroinbased
on
macroinvertebrates
data
collected
by
the
Institute
vertebrates data collected by the Institute of Meteorology, Hyof Meteorology,
Hydrology
andperiod
Environment
for the
period
drology
and Environment
for the
from 2005
to 2010.
The Kharaa River
from 2005 to 2010.
As part of the Mongolia’s freshwater quality monitoring netAs part of the Mongolia’s freshwater quality monitoring
work,
the Kharaa River water quality has been monitored at
network, the Kharaa River water quality has been monitored
four
sampling
points
at at
two
1986.
at four sampling
points
twomonitoring
monitoringstations
stations since
since 1986.
The
upper
whichisisthe
the
reference
of
The
uppermonitoring
monitoring station,
station, which
reference
sitesite
of the
thestudy,
study,is is
located
near
Zuunkharaa
(a
small
urban
settlelocated near Zuunkharaa (a small urban settlement)
ment)
has sampling
two sampling
points
upstream
and downstream
and and
has two
points
upstream
and downstream
from
from
Zuunkharaa.
The
second
monitoring
station
is
located
Zuunkharaa. The second monitoring station is located near to
near
to Darkhan
city
two sampling
points too—upDarkhan
city and
hasand
twohas
sampling
points too-upstream
and
downstream
from
the
city.
stream and downstream from the city.
The
overall
assessment
of chemical
the chemical
composition
has
The
overall
assessment
of the
composition
has shown
shown
good
chemical
conditions
at
the
sampling
sites
on
good chemical conditions at the sampling sites on the Kharaa
the The
Kharaa
River.
Theconcentrations
monthly mean
concentrations
of
River.
monthly
mean
of total
dissolved
salts
2+
total dissolved2+salts +(the +sum of2+Ca2+, Na++K+, Mg
, HCO
- 3-,
2(the sum
of Ca , Na +K , Mg , HCO3-, SO4 and Cl ), or
SO42- and Cl-), or mineralization, in the
Kharaa River vary
mineralization, in the Kharaa River vary between 162.2-335.7
between 162.2-335.7 mg/l and show a tendency to increase
mg/l
and show a tendency to increase towards downstream.
towards downstream. The concentrations of total dissolved
The
concentrations
total dissolved
salts increase
salts increase alsoofduring
snow melting
periods.also
In aduring
vast
snow
melting
periods.
In
a
vast
majority
of
the
cases,
the
order
majority of the cases, the order of abundance of cations is
+
+
2+
2+
>Naof
+K
>Mg2+, of
and
the orof Ca
abundance
cations
is the
Ca2+order
>Na++K+of
>Mg
, and
abundance
anions
is
22->SO
>Cl
.
derHCO
of abundance
of
anions
is
HCO
->SO
>Cl
.
3
4
3
4
The Orkhon River
The grassland of the Kharaa River Basin
The
concentrations
(BOD)
The
concentrationsofofthe
thebiological
biological oxygen
oxygen demand
demand (BOD)
are,
mostofofthe
thecases,
cases, below
below the
the Maximum Acceptable
are,
in inmost
Acceptable
Concentrationofof5 5mg/l—the
mg/l-the standard set
Concentration
set by
by the
the Mongolian
Mongolian
National
Standard
for
Water
Quality
of
the
Aquatic
National Standard for Water Quality of the Aquatic EnvironEnvironment:
General
Requirements
MNS
4586-98
(NSA,
ment: General Requirements MNS 4586-98 (NSA, 1998).
1998).
This indicates that in general the river water is clean. However,
This indicates that in general the river water is clean. However,
The forest of the Kharaa River Basin
Pollution
threats
and hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and hotspots
assessment
project.
33
UNDP-GEF project
it should be noted that the BOD
concentrations occasionally exceed the
Maximum Acceptable Concentrations (5
mg/l) at both sampling sites during summer.
This may show that organic pollutants
originating from urban and industrial areas
and livestock wastes enter the river with
surface washing during heavy rainfall events
in summer.
Phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations
show a decreasing trend near Zuunkharaa,
while there is no trend near the city of
Darkhan. The concentrations of NO3-N
near Zuunkharaa have decreased since
1990s. Similarly, PO4-Pconcentrations have
decreased near Zuunkharaa.
There are no observed data on metals, except
total Fe and Cr6+ at the downstream sampling
points of both monitoring stations. The
monthly mean concentrations of Fe range
between 0.08 and 0.15 mg/l and increases
during rainy seasons. The Cr6+ concentrations
are between 0 and 0.01 mg/l and also
increase in rainy season.
The analysis of the macro-invertebrate
communities at the two monitoring sites of
the Kharaa River watershed indicates that
the ecological condition of the river is good.
The assessment of the fish communities has
shown a good, or a very good, ecological
status at the sites. A moderate status, detected
at two sites in the watershed, is caused by
the absence of ubiquistic species, showing
no clear deficits in the ecological integrity of
the fish fauna. Most of the fish species are
known to occur in the Kharaa River Basin.
The major point source of pollution appears
to be the wastewater treatment plants in the
cities of Darkhan and Salkhit. The treatment
rate of the Darkhan Wastewater Treatment
Plant ranges between 80-98%. The BOD
concentrations in the outlet wastewater range
between 3.1-33.6 mg/land very rarely exceed
the Maximum Acceptable Concentrations
(20 mg/l), set by the Mongolian National
Standard for Wastewater Treatment MNS
4943-2000.
4
More than 60 percent of the total area of the
Kharaa River Basin is pasture. Accordingly,
the livestock herding at the river bank is
the major non-point source of pollution
during warm seasons, leading to the fecal
contamination and direct nutrient inputs to
the river water by domestic waste, including
animal manure.
The second largest non-point source is open
mining. Several large mining reserves are
found in the Kharaa River Basin and occupy
an area of about 16 percent of the total area
of the basin. Some of the mines are not yet
exploited, which means that exploration and
development licenses of these reserves may
have been issued to mining companies, with
mining operations not having started. The
mining area under operation represents 1.5
percent of the total area of the basin, which
is about 9.3 percent of the total area for
mining purposes (Figure 26). There are no
systematically observed data to assess the
pollution from mining activities in the area.
Heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and
cyanide are commonly used in gold mines,
which may have potentially serious impacts
not only on surface water quality but also
on groundwater and soil. An incident of a
possible mercury and cyanide contamination
of groundwater caused by a tailings spill from
a small mining operation in Khongor soum
was recorded in 2007.
The results of the assessment indicate that
the water quality in the Kharaa River Basin
decreases occasionally to ‘moderatelypolluted’ and ‘very-polluted’ near urban and
industrial settlements, which may become a
concern in the future. The main sources of
water pollution in the basin are urban areas,
agriculture and mining activities.
The assessment also shows that the selfpurification rate in the Mongolian rivers
is usually high with the distance of selfpurification of 6-18 kilometers. The selfpurification distance of the Kharaa River
appears to be 10 kilometers downstream
from the city of Darkhan. Consequently,
the Kharaa River water becomes clean at
its outlet at the confluence with the Orkhon
project.
UNDP-GEF project
quality
Orkhon
and
Selenge
rivers.
quality
ofof
thethe
Orkhon
and
Selenge
rivers.
overall,
results
of the
study
the water
InInoverall,
thethe
results
of the
study
showshow
that that
the water
qualquality
of
the
Kharaa
River
Basin
is
clean
and
good
ity of the Kharaa River Basin is clean and has good has
ecological
ecologicalThe
conditions.
The of
water
of thedecreases
Kharaa
conditions.
water quality
the quality
Kharaa River
River
decreases
occasionally
to
‘moderately-polluted’
occasionally to ‘moderately-polluted’ and ‘very-polluted’ and
near
‘very-polluted’ near urban and industrial areas, as well as
urban and industrial areas, as well as during high water periods
during high water periods and snow melting times. This
and snow melting times. This shows that moderate pollution
shows that moderate pollution occurs near urban areas
occurs
urban
areasperiods,
and in snow
periods,
with no
and innear
snow
melting
with melting
no serious
degradation
serious
in of
thethe
water
quality
of the whole basin.
in thedegradation
water quality
whole
basin.
The
basin are
are urban
urban
Themain
mainsources
sourcesofofwater
water pollution
pollution in
in the
the basin
areas,
agriculture
and
mining
activities.
Due
to
rapid
urbanareas, agriculture and mining activities. Due to rapid
ization
and economic
development,
pollution
from municiurbanization
and economic
development,
pollution
from
municipal
wastewater
andactivities
mining may
activities
mayabecome
pal
wastewater
and mining
become
concern
concern
the future. Furthermore,
the Basin
Kharaais River
inathe
future.inFurthermore,
the Kharaa River
facing
Basin is
facing growing
pressures
change
growing
pressures
from climate
changefrom
andclimate
rising water
deand
rising
water
demands.
Hence,
the
sustainable
use
and
mands. Hence, the sustainable use and management of water
management
water River
resources
Kharaaimportance
River Basinin
resources
of theofKharaa
Basinof
is the
of crucial
is
of
crucial
importance
in
securing
future
water
supplies
securing future water supplies in the area.
in the area.
The Borоo Gold mining
Pollution
threats
and and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
hotspots
assessment
project.
55
UNDP-GEF project
6
project.
UNDP-GEF project
Introduction
1.1.Introduction
Pollution
project.
©Batimaa P., 2013
UNDP-GEF project
Life on Earth originated from water. Water is
essential for human life. We drink it, we
produce food and other products with it, and
we use water for many socio-cultural activities.
Our health and well-being depend on it. It is
essential for the sustainable development
of society. Water a resource that must be
sustained for future generations.
1.1. Background
With abundant water resources in some areas
and shortages in others, Mongolia is facing a
With abundant water resources in some areas
and shortages in others, Mongolia is facing a
challenge to use and manage its water
resources for the country’s sustainable
development and the prosperity of its people,
while protecting and maintaining them for
future generations.
Mongolia has many beautiful freshwater
lakes and rivers. Most of Mongolia’s rivers
are spread across the northern part of the
country, where the river system is also most
extensive. The largest and longest rivers
in Mongolia are the Orkhon River (1,124
km), the Kherlen River (1,090 km), the
Tuul River (704 km), Zavkhan River (670
km) and the Selenge River (539 km). The
Selenge River is the largest river by volume
of flow. Many rivers are used as sources of
water for livestock and irrigation. Because
of the mountainous terrain, there is a great
concentration of potential hydropower in the
north. Most of the rivers are unsuitable for
navigation. The largest lakes of Mongolia,
including Khuvsgul, Uvs and Khar-Us, are
located in the northern and western regions
of the country. Lake Khuvsgul, located in
northern Mongolia, is Mongolia’s largest
freshwater lake and the 16th largest naturally
formed lake in the world by water volume.
Lake Khuvsgul contains 60 percent of the
surface freshwater resources of Mongolia
and is a constant source of clean freshwater
flowing to the Selenge River through its
outflow the Eg River. It is one of the ancient
lakes of Asia and a sister lake of Lake Baikal.
Lake Uvs (Uvs Nuur) is the largest lake in
Mongolia by surface area. The Uvs Nuur
Basin has been designated by UNESCO
as a World Heritage Site for its rich steppe
biodiversity. Mongolia has substantial
groundwater resources, which are unevenly
distributed over the country-abundant in the
8
north and very scarce, or non-existent, in the
south.
Most of Mongolia’s water resources belong
to transboundary river basins of the Arctic
Ocean and Pacific Ocean drainage. Some of
the world’s major rivers have their origin in
Mongolia, including Selenge River, Yenisei
and Irtysh. The Selenge River is a major
transboundary river in the heart of Asia and
the main tributary of Lake Baikal, located in
Russia. The Selenge River Basin is shared
by Mongolia and Russia (Figure 1). It forms
the headwaters of the Yenisei-Angara river
system. About two-thirds of the surface
runoff leaves Mongolia.
resources are under increasing pressure.
Water resources of Mongolia are limited,
with the annual water reserves of 34.6
cubic kilometers- which is relatively low
compared to other countries. Yet, the per
capita annual renewable water availability
exceeds 10,000 cubic meters, which is more
than in most other countries in the world.
This seeming contradiction can be explained
by the country’s population density of only
1.8 persons per square kilometers, which is
the lowest in the world. Despite the huge
amount of renewable water in the country,
its availability is unevenly distributed in
space and in time. Most of Mongolia’s
territory lies in arid and semi-arid regions,
which makes its water resources particularly
vulnerable to climatic and human pressures.
Mongolia’s water resources are faced with
rapidly growing problems such as the impact
of global climate change, overexploitation of
water resources, wastewater discharge into
rivers from point sources in urban and rural
areas, and diffuse pollution from non-point
sources like livestock and cropland (Batimaa
et al, 2011).
project.
UNDP-GEF project
Figure 1.Map of the Lake Baikal Basin, shared between Mongolia and Russia
Figure 1. Map of the Lake Baikal Basin, shared between Mongolia and Russia
The Kharaa
of the
mainmain
tribThe
Kharaa River
RiverBasin
Basinis one
is one
of the
utaries of Orkhon-Selenge
River River
Basin (Figure
tributaries
of Orkhon-Selenge
Basin
2). The2).
Orkhon
River originates
in the in
Khan(Figure
The Orkhon
River originates
the
Khangai
Mountains
in central
Mongolia
and
gai Mountains
in central
Mongolia
and flows
flows
northwards
for 1,124
km before
joining
northwards
for 1,124
km before
joining
the
the
Selenge
River,
which
empties
into
Lake
Selenge River, which empties into Lake BaiBaikal.
Orkhon
River
is the
longest
river
kal. TheThe
Orkhon
River
is the
longest
river
in
in
Mongolia
and
the
valley
along
the
river
is
Mongolia and the valley along the river is an
an
archaeologically-rich
cultural
landscape.
archaeologically-rich
cultural
landscape.
The
Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape has been
designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage
Site.
Heritage
Site. The pollution of Kharaa River
The pollution
of Kharaa
River concern
Basin is becomBasin
is becoming
a growing
due to
ing high
a growing
concern due to the high vulthe
vulnerability
of
the basin
to urban
and
nerability
of the basin
to urban
andindustrial
industrial
pollution
pollution from urban settlements
settlements and
and large
large
industrial
operations
located
in
the
basin.
industrial operations located in the basin. The
The
Kharaa
River isBasin
sharedthree
among
Kharaa
River Basin
sharedis among
adthree
administrative
regions,
called
aimags
ministrative regions, called aimags (equivalent
(equivalent
to provinces)—namely,
Selenge
to provinces)—namely,
Selenge aimag,
Tuv
aimag, Tuv aimag and Darkhan-Uul aimag.
aimag and Darkhan-Uul aimag.
Pollution
project.
99
UNDP-GEF project
The basin also includes the rapidly-growing
industrial city of Darkhan, which is the third
largest city with 74,738 inhabitants (as of
2010). The entire population of the Kharaa
River Basin is about 133,000. The Kharaa
River Basin is under increasing pressure from
rapid urbanization, rising water demand
and climate change. The upper basin is in a
relatively pristine state and has experienced
minimal anthropogenic impacts. The lower
basin is characterized by diverse economic
activities such as industry, agriculture and
livestock breeding, which may potentially
have significant impacts on the quantity and
quality of water resources of the basin.
Furthermore, the basin provides drinking
water for the rapidly-growing Darkhan
City, which water supplies largely rely on
alluvial aquifers containing shallow-depth
groundwater, and the inhabitants of small
human settlements in the basin. Hence,
growing pressures from climate change
and anthropogenic activities on the Kharaa
River may become a matter of concern in
securing future water supplies in the area.
Consequently, the assessment of water
pollution in the Selenge River Basin focused
on a case-study on pollution hotspots and
pollution threats in the Kharaa River Basin,
including urban water pollution in Darkhan,
Mongolia.
1.2. Objectives of the study
River water systems bring a multitude of
benefits, called “ecological goods and
services”, to the society. Water resources for
human uses and ecological services depend
on good natural ecological conditions
of rivers. Furthermore, the availability of
valuable fish populations in rivers and
lakes and the self-purification capacity of
rivers directly depend on water quality.
The protection and maintenance of water
quality is, therefore, required to ensure
the sustainability of water resources and
ecosystem goods and services.
Climate change, rapid urbanization and
expanding economic activities exert a wide
range of pressures on the Selenge River
Basin, particularly on the Kharaa River,
which makes the Kharaa River Basin an ideal
focus region of this study. There are growing
concerns over the overexploitation of water
resources and pollution from urban areas,
agriculture and mining.
The assessment of water pollution in the
Selenge River Basin focused on a case-study
on pollution hotspots and pollution threats
in Kharaa River Basin, including urban water
pollution in Darkhan, Mongolia.
The main objectives of this study were to
assess the current state of the water quality
of the Kharaa River Basin, assess water
pollution from diffuse and point sources,
identify pollution hotspots in the basin, and
determine the main pressures on the water
quality of the Kharaa River, with a qualitative
description of their impacts.
The water quality assessment focused on:
• the survey of water quality characteristics
of the Kharaa River;
•the identification of anthropogenic
impacts on the river’s water quality;
• the identification of major threats to the
water quality in the basin; and
• the development of recommendations on
pollution prevention and control in the
Kharaa River Basin.
The scope of study includes:
• Human impacts on water quality in the
basin;
• Major pollution threats to water quality;
•Pollution hotspots, including major
pollution sources, types and levels of selected
main pollutants;
•Urban pollution, including municipal
wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste;
•Negative impacts of water pollution
on the sustainability of water resources in
the basin, as well as on human health and
ecosystems.
The study is based on existing information
and data that are available at national
institutions.
10 project.
UNDP-GEF project
1.3. Data
1.3.
Dataand
andmethodology
methodology
Mongolia
a surface
water quality
Mongoliahashas
a surface
water monitorquality
ing
network, which
consists
of national
monitoring
network,
which
consistssamof
pling
sites sampling
at various sites
locations
and frequencies
national
at various
locations
and frequencies
throughout
Mongolia’s
throughout
Mongolia’s
river network.
Theriver
wanetwork.
The
water
quality
monitoring
aims
ter quality monitoring aims to monitor the wato quality
monitorofthe
water
of rivers
and to
ter
rivers
andquality
to provide
an overview
provide
an
overview
of
the
state
of
water
of the state of water quality of Mongolia’s
rivquality
of
Mongolia’s
rivers
in
compliance
ers in compliance with the Mongolian National
with the for
Mongolian
National
for
Standard
Water Quality
of theStandard
Aquatic EnWater Quality of the Aquatic Environment:
vironment: General Requirements MNS 4586General Requirements MNS 4586- 98
98
(NSA, 1998). Water quality monitoring mea(NSA, 1998). Water quality monitoring
surements
include include
physicochemical
parameters
measurements
physicochemical
such
as
temperature,
pH,
major
ions,
nutrients
parameters such as temperature, pH,
major
and
metals.
Since
1995,
the
surface
water
ions, nutrients and metals. Since 1995, biothe
monitoring
network
has been recognized
an
surface water
biomonitoring
network ashas
been recognized as an integral part of the long-
integral
part of thequality
long-term
freshwater
quality
term freshwater
monitoring
network.
monitoring
network.
It
incorporates
biological
It incorporates biological information into
information
into traditional physicochemical
traditional physicochemical
water quality
water
qualityMacro-invertebrate
monitoring. Macro-invertebrate
monitoring.
samples are
collectedare
forcollected
use in assessing
degradation
samples
for usethe
in assessing
the
of aquatic ecosystems.
degradation
of aquatic ecosystems.
The Selenge
SelengeRiver
River
is ofone
of the mostThe
is one
the most-extensiveextensively
monitored
rivers
in
As
ly monitored rivers in Mongolia.Mongolia.
As the study
the study focuses on the Kharaa River Basin,
focuses on the Kharaa River Basin, data from
data from selected water quality monitoring
selected water quality monitoring stations are
stations are used in the study. Monitoring
used
in the
study.
Monitoring
stations and
stations
and
sampling
sites selected
for samthis
pling
sites
selected
for
this
study
are
described
study are described in the respective sections
in
the respective
sections hereafter of the rehereafter
of the report.
port.
1.3.1. Monitoring sites
1.3.1. Monitoring sites
As
the Mongolia’s
Mongolia’s freshwater
freshwater quality
quality
As part
part of
of the
monitoring
network,
the
Kharaa
River
water
monitoring network, the Kharaa River water
quality
at two
two stations
stations
quality has
has been
been monitored
monitored at
since
1986
(see
Figure
6).
since 1986 (see Figure 6).
of
study. ItIt has
has two
two sampling
sampling points:
points: the
the
of the
the study.
first
sampling
point
(Zuunkharaa-upper)
is
first sampling point (Zuunkharaa-upper) lois
cated
upstream
of
Zuunkharaa;
and
the
seclocated upstream of Zuunkharaa; and the
ond
sampling
pointpoint
(Zuunkharaa-down)
is losecond
sampling
(Zuunkharaa-down)
cated
downstream
from from
Zuunkharaa
in order
is located
downstream
Zuunkharaa
in
The upper
upper monitoring
The
monitoring station is located
located near
near to
monitor
the
impact
of
the
settlement
on
the
order to monitor the impact of the settlement
Zuunkharaa-a small
on the of
quality
of the River
Kharaa
River water.
Zuunkharaa—a
smallurban
urbansettlement.
settlement.This
This quality
the Kharaa
water.
station
has
been
chosen
as
the
reference
site
station has been chosen as the reference site
Figure
2. The
Confluence
of the rivers (29 June 2009)
Figure 2. The Confluence
of the
Selenge
and Orkhon
Selenge and Orkhon rivers (29 June 2009)
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
11
11
UNDP-GEF project
The second monitoring station is located
near to Darkhan city, and has two sampling
points:
Darkhan-upper and Darkhan-down, which
are located upstream and downstream from
the city.
1.3.2. Data
Water quality varies considerably throughout
the year in relation to climatic conditions,
runoff and human activities. In order to
obtain a realistic view on surface water
quality and to evaluate trends in the basin,
monitoring data must be collected at
different times of the year on same sampling
sites. However, surface water sampling
alone cannot characterize all the physical
and biological conditions of surface water
systems. In addition to surface water
assessment, studies on sediments, habitats
and biological diversity are also necessary to
obtain a complete understanding of the state
of water quality and ecological conditions of
river basins and their changes.
The assessment of the water quality of the
Kharaa River Basin included an assessment
of changes in both hydrochemical
and hydrobiological parameters. The
hydrochemical monitoring data, collected by
the Central Laboratory for Environment and
Meteorology for the period from 1986 through
2011, are used for the hydro-chemical study.
The macroinvertebrates data collected by
the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and
Environment for the period from 2005 to
2010 are used for the hydrobiological study.
Observed data on surface water quality
Within the Mongolian national environmental
monitoring network, there are 64 sampling
sites for surface water quality monitoring.
These sampling sites are located on 19 rivers
and one lake. There are also two sampling
sites in the Selenge River Basin for the analysis
of wastewater discharges from wastewater
treatment plants. It should be noted that
data from only selected sampling sites are
assessed for this report, as the study focuses
on the Kharaa River Basin. The Kharaa River
water quality is monitored at four sampling
points at two monitoring stations—near
Zuunkharaa and the city of Darkhan.
The assessment of the water quality in the
Kharaa River is based on both hydrochemical
and hydrobiological parameters.
Environment and Meteorology for the period
from 1986 through 2011.
The Kharaa River water quality is monitored
at the Zuunkharaa monitoring stations with a
monthly frequency during the months of April
through November, whereas the monitoring
is carried out once a month throughout the
year at the Darkhan monitoring station. The
water quality monitoring parameters at these
stations are shown in Table 1.
The hydrobiological assessment is based on
macroinvertebrates data collected by the
Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and
Environment for the period from 2005
to 2010. Table 2 shows hydrobiological
monitoring stations in the Selenge River
Basin.
The hydrochemical assessment is based on
hydrochemical monitoring data of the Kharaa
River collected by the Central Laboratory for
12 project.
UNDP-GEF project
Table
Table 1.
1.Kharaa
KharaaRiver
Rivermonitoring
monitoring stations
stations and
and parameters
parameters
№ Stations
Chemistry
2+
1
Zuunkharaa
upper
Zuunkharaa
down
Darkhan
upper
Darkhan
down
2
3
4
1
Zuunkharaa
upper
Zuunkharaa
down
Darkhan
upper
Darkhan
down
2
3
4
+
Suspended
Solids
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Cl-
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Ca
Mg
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
O2
pH
+
Hardness
+
SO4--
2+
Na +K
BOD
+
NH4-N
+
HCO3
-
Nitrogen
NO3-N
+
Metals
Cr
PO4-P
+
Fe
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Table
Table 2.
2.Hydrobiological
Hydrobiologicalmonitoring
monitoringstations
stations
№
Rivers
1 Selenge
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Selenge
Selenge
Chuluut
Eg
Orkhon
Urdtamir
Achuut
Tuul
Tuul
Tuul
Terelj
Zuunturuu
Ulaistai
Selbe
Selbe
Kharaa
Kharaa
Ider
Sharyin gol
Station
Location
Khurag
Latitude
49037’611
Longitude
102085’056
Khyalganat
Sykhbaatar
Chuluut
Khantai
Orkhon
Tsetserleg
Bulgan
Ulaanbaatar
Altanbulag
Lun
Terelj
Bulgan
Uliastai
Sanzai
Dambadarjaa
Baruunkharaa
Darkhan
Tosontsengel
Jimsnii stants
49. 046’833
50025’258
47054’250
49055’000
480.66’000
47044’722
48082’917
47088’333
47068’333
47085’000
47096’667
48082’917
48004’130
48013’333
47098’000
48091’089
49059’142
48074’111
49076’667
104037’944
106013’786
100024’722
103026’806
103056’778
101050’250
103050’306
106093’333
106028’330
105018’333
107046’667
103054’583
107006’255
106088’333
106092’000
106007’844
105085’908
98023’056
106016’667
Pollution
threats
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
andand
hotspots
assessment
project.
13
13
UNDP-GEF project
Groundwater quality
data
Groundwater
quality
data
Groundwater
limited to
to
Groundwater quality
quality monitoring
monitoring is
is limited
only
for for
the the
period
beonly aanumber
numberofoflocations
locations
period
fore
1990.
DataData
on groundwater
quality
were
before
1990.
on groundwater
quality
were recorded
for shallow
andwells
deepand
wells
recorded
for shallow
and deep
inand included
on mineral
composition,
cluded
data ondata
mineral
composition,
pH, and
pH, and sometimes
nitrogen-based
sometimes
nitrogen-based
nutrients nutrients
such as
such
as
nitrite,
ammonium,
nitrate. As
nitrite, ammonium, and nitrate.and
As mineraliza-
tion
of aquifers of
does
not change
significantly
mineralization
aquifers
does not
change
within
a few within
decades,
it was
assumed
that
significantly
a few
decades,
it was
these
datathat
reflect
roughly
the current
statethe
of
assumed
these
data reflect
roughly
current
state
of
physico-chemical
quality
physico-chemical quality of groundwater. The
of groundwater.
Thesufficient
availabletodata
not
available
data are not
assessare
trends
sufficient
to
assess
trends
of
groundwater
of groundwater quality in the Kharaa River Baquality in the Kharaa River Basin.
sin.
Reports, publications
andand
other
materials
Reports,
publications
other
materials
Many other published
used reports of
Many
published reports were
were reviewed
reviewed used
of the
theongoing
ongoingGerman-funded
German-funded
and
used
in
this
study
in
order
to
capture
all
project
on
“Integrated
Water
Resources
and used
in order to capture all project on “Integrated Water Resources
Manavailable information
informationon
on the
the water quality
Management
for Central
Asia–MoMo”
the
available
quality of
of agement
for Central
Asia–MoMo”
in the in
basin.
the
Kharaa
Rver
Basin.
The
study
extensively
basin.
the Kharaa Rver Basin. The study extensively
1.3.3. Methodology
1.3.3.
Methodology
In general,
general,
water
quality
is defined
by
In
water
quality
is defined
by the comthe
composition
of
its
constituents,
position of its constituents, including: physical
including: physical characteristics (such as
characteristics (such as temperature, suspended
temperature, suspended solids); chemical
solids);
chemical(such
characteristics
(suchnutrients,
as major
characteristics
as major ions,
ions,
nutrients,
oxygen,
organic
compounds);
oxygen, organic compounds); and biological
and
biological characteristics
(such as macrocharacteristics
(such as macroinvertebrates).
invertebrates).
The assessment
assessment
of water
the quality
water monitorquality
The
of the
monitoring
data
is
based
on
the
basic
ing data is based on the basic statistical analystatistical analysis (arithmetic mean, max/
sis (arithmetic mean, max/min, trends, etc.) for
min, trends, etc.) for each possible chemical
each
possible
chemicalatparameter
monitored
parameter
monitored
the sampling
points
at
the
sampling
points
in
the
Kharaa
River as
in the Kharaa River as part of the national
part
the national
waternetwork.
quality monitoring
waterofquality
monitoring
network.
Water Quality Index
Water Quality Index
One of the key goals of implementing
One of the key goals of implementing conserconservation practices is to maintain and
vation
practices
to maintain
anda improve
waimprove
water isquality
within
watershed.
ter
within
Thecan
overall
state
Thequality
overall
state aofwatershed.
water quality
serve
as
of
water
quality
can
serve
as
a
simple
first
step
a simple first step tool in efforts of evaluating
tool
in efforts
of evaluating
effects
of the coneffects
of the
conservation
practices
in
servation
practices
improving the
and/or
sustainimproving
and/or insustaining
quality
of
ing
theinquality
of water inOne
the watershed.
One
water
the watershed.
of the methods
to the
describe
the to
overall
statethe
ofoverall
water quality
of
methods
describe
state of
is Water
Quality
Index
(WQI).
It is
basedIt
water
quality
is Water
Quality
Index
(WQI).
on
information
from
a
number
of
different
is based on information from a number of difsources
and and
combines
them
into
ferent
sources
combines
them
intoa asingle
single
number
that
represents
an
overall
state
of
number that represents an overall state of the
the
quality
of
the
water
at
a
particular
time
and
quality of the water at a particular time and
location. Conventionally, WQI has been
location. Conventionally, WQI has been dedeveloped and used for evaluating water
veloped
and used for evaluating water quality
quality of water resources such as streams,
of
water
resources
rivers and
lakes. such as streams, rivers and
lakes.
The Water Quality Index is used by the
The Water Quality Index is used by the Central
Central Laboratory
for Environment
and
Laboratory
for Environment
and Meteorology
Meteorology of Mongolia for the purpose
of Mongolia for the purpose of assessing the
of assessing the ecological status of surface
ecological
status of surface
Mongolia.
waters in Mongolia.
Belowwaters
is thein
description
Below
is
the
description
of
the
methodology
of the methodology for determining the WQI,
for
determining
the WQI,
this study.
used
in this study.
It is used
basedin on:
surfaceIt
iswater
based
on: surface
quality
index; and
quality
index; water
and biotic
index.
biotic index.
Surface water quality index: The surface
) isThe
defined
a
water quality
index (W
Surface
water quality
index:
surfaceaswaqi
simple
expression
ofqia) is
more
or less
ter
quality
index (W
defined
as complex
a simple
combination
a several
which
expression
of aofmore
or less parameters
complex combinaserves
as
a
measure
for
water
quality
(Bulgan,
tion of a several parameters which serves as a
2008). Itforiswater
estimated
by the 2008).
following
measure
quality (Bulgan,
It is
equation:
estimated by the following equation:
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
∑𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 � 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 �
𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞
𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 =
𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
14 project.
14
Water
Quality
of Kharaa
the Kharaa
Basin,
Mongolia:
Water
Quality
of the
RiverRiver
Basin,
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
Table3.3.Water
Waterquality
qualityclassification
classification
Table
Water quality classification
I
II
II
IV
V
VI
Classification
Very clean
Clean
Moderately polluted
Polluted
Highly polluted
Extremely polluted
Water Quality Index
≤0.3
0.1-0.89
0.90-2.49
2.50-3.99
4.00-5.99
≥6.0
Where,
Where,
ismaximum
the maximum
concentration
ith pollutant,
i
of of
ithth pollutant,
Pli isPlthe
permisCCii isisconcentration
pollutant
in
accordance
with 4586the
permissible
level
of
i
th
sible level of i pollutant in accordance with the MNS
MNS 4586- 98, and n is the total number of pollutants.
98, and n is the total number of pollutants.
The water quality of rivers is then classified based on Wqi
The
water
values,
as quality
shown of
in rivers
Table is3.then classified based on Wqi values, as shown in Table 3.
In determining the WQI, the water quality parameters
should be chosen according to the importance of assessing
In
determining
water quality
parameters data.
should
water
quality the
andWQI,
the the
availability
of monitoring
be
chosen
according
to
the
importance
of
assessing
water
The following parameters were used in the water quality
quality
and the
availability
monitoring
data. The following
assessment
of the
Kharaa of
River
in the framework
of this
parameters
were
used
in
the
water
quality
assessment
of the
study:
Kharaa River
in the framework of (NH4-N)
this study:
• ammonium-nitrogen
• nitrate-nitrogen
(NO3-N) (NH4-N)
• ammonium-nitrogen
• phosphate
(PO4-P) (NO3-N)
• nitrate-nitrogen
• permanganate
• phosphatevalue
(PO4-P)
• suspended
solids. value
• permanganate
• suspended solids.
The dissolved oxygen (DO) and biological oxygen demand
(BOD) are the most preferable parameters for the water
The dissolved oxygen (DO) and biological oxygen demand
quality assessment. However, the DO and BOD are
(BOD)
are the most preferable parameters for the water qualmonitored only at the two sampling points of the Darkhan
ity
assessment.
However,
the the
DOZuunkharaa
and BOD are
monitored
monitoring
station,
whereas
monitoring
only
at the
of the Darkhan
monitoring
station
doestwo
notsampling
include points
these parameters,
as shown
in
station,
whereas
the
Zuunkharaa
monitoring
station
does
Table 1. Therefore, due to lack of data on DO and BODnot
include
these parameters,
as shown
in Table
1. Therefore,
due
at the Zuunkharaa
monitoring
station,
these
parameters
to
lacknot
of data
DOaccount
and BOD
the Zuunkharaa
were
takenon
into
theatcalculation
of the monitorWater
Quality
Index
of parameters
the Kharaa were
River.not taken into account the
ing
station,
these
calculation of the Water Quality Index of the Kharaa River.
Biotic index: One of the methods that scale the water
quality by the hydrobiology is the “Hilsenhoff Biotic
Index”index:
(Barbour
1999).
The that
Biotic
Index
based
on
Biotic
Oneetofal,the
methods
scale
theiswater
quality
categorizing
macroinvertebrates
by the hydrobiology is the “Hilsenhoff Biotic Index” (Barbour
into categories depending on their response to organic
et al, 1999). The Biotic Index is based on categorizing macropollution (i.e., the tolerance of various levels of dissolved
invertebrates into categories depending on their response to
oxygen) and the pollution tolerance scores and expanded
organic pollution (i.e., the tolerance of various levels of dissolved oxygen) and the pollution tolerance scores and expanded the range from 0 to 10 (Table 4).
The Borоо River dam
The
Borоо river dam
The Bornuur irrigation channel
Pollution
threats
andand
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
hotspots
assessment
project.
15
15
UNDP-GEF project
Table
Table
4.
Macroinvertebrates
Biotic
Index
Table4.
4.Macroinvertebrates
MacroinvertebratesBiotic
BioticIndex
Index
Group
Group name
name
Biotic
Biotic
index
index
Ephemeoptera
Ephemeoptera
Ameletidae
Ameletidae
Baetidae
Baetidae
Baetiscidae
Baetiscidae
Caenidae
Caenidae
Ephemerellidae
Ephemerellidae
Ephemeridae
Ephemeridae
Heptageniidae
Heptageniidae
Isonychiidae
Isonychiidae
Leptophlebidae
Leptophlebidae
Metretopodidae
Metretopodidae
Oligoneyridae
Oligoneyridae
Polymitarcyidae
Polymitarcyidae
Potamanthidae
Potamanthidae
Siphlonuridae
Siphlonuridae
Plecoptera
Plecoptera
Capniidae
Capniidae
Chloroperlidae
Chloroperlidae
Leuctridae
Leuctridae
Nemouridae
Nemouridae
Perlidae
Perlidae
Perlodidae
Perlodidae
Pteronarcyidae
Pteronarcyidae
Taeniopterygidae
Taeniopterygidae
Odonata
Odonata
Aeshnidae
Aeshnidae
Calopterygidae
Calopterygidae
Coenagrionidae
Coenagrionidae
Cordulegastridae
Cordulegastridae
Corduliidae
Corduliidae
Gomphidae
Gomphidae
00
55
44
66
11
33
33
11
33
22
22
22
44
44
22
00
00
22
22
22
00
22
33
66
88
33
22
33
Group
Group name
name
Lestidae
Lestidae
Libellulidae
Libellulidae
Macromiidae
Macromiidae
Trichoptera
Trichoptera
Brachycentridae
Brachycentridae
Glossomatidae
Glossomatidae
Hydropsychidae
Hydropsychidae
Hydroptilidae
Hydroptilidae
Lepidostomatidae
Lepidostomatidae
Leptoceridae
Leptoceridae
Limnephilidae
Limnephilidae
Molannidae
Molannidae
Odontaceridae
Odontaceridae
Phryganeidae
Phryganeidae
Polycentropodidae
Polycentropodidae
Psychomyiidae
Psychomyiidae
Rhaycophilidae
Rhaycophilidae
Battle
Battle
Elmidae
Elmidae
Dytiscidae
Dytiscidae
Gyrinidae
Gyrinidae
Haliplidae
Haliplidae
Hydrophilidae
Hydrophilidae
Diptera
Diptera
Athericidae
Athericidae
Blepharoceridae
Blepharoceridae
Ceratopogonidae
Ceratopogonidae
Chaoboridae
Chaoboridae
RedChironomidae
RedChironomidae
Other
Other Chironomidae
Chironomidae
Culicidae
Culicidae
Biotic
Biotic
index
index
66
22
22
11
11
44
44
11
44
33
66
00
44
66
22
11
44
55
44
55
55
44
00
66
88
88
66
88
Group
Group name
name
Biotic
Biotic index
index
Dixidae
Dixidae
Emphididae
Emphididae
Ephydridae
Ephydridae
Psychodidae
Psychodidae
Simulidae
Simulidae
Muscidae
Muscidae
Syrphidae
Syrphidae
Tabanidae
Tabanidae
Tipulidae
Tipulidae
Homoptera
Homoptera
Corixidae
Corixidae
Megaloptera
Megaloptera
Corydalidae
Corydalidae
Sialidae
Sialidae
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Pyralidae
Pyralidae
Pagurian
Pagurian
Gammaridae
Gammaridae
Asellidae
Asellidae
Translingual
Translingual
Acariformes
Acariformes
Pulmonate
Pulmonate
Lymnaeidae
Lymnaeidae
Physidae
Physidae
Planorbidae
Planorbidae
Sphaeridae
Sphaeridae
Clitellata
Clitellata
Oligochaeta
Oligochaeta
Hirudinea
Hirudinea
Turbellaria
Turbellaria
11
66
66
88
66
66
10
10
55
33
55
44
44
55
66
88
44
66
88
77
88
88
10
10
44
The
The
Macroinvertebrates
Biotic
Index,
Index,
used
used
for
for Where,
Where,
Where,
The Macroinvertebrates
MacroinvertebratesBiotic
Biotic
Index,
used
the
the
assessment
assessment
of
of
the
the
river
river
water
water
quality,
quality,
is
is
eses-group
macroinvertebrates,
macroinvertebrates,
isis macroinvertemacroinverteis i-group
macroinvertebrates,
ti is
for the assessment of the river water quality, xisisi -group
timated
timated
by
by the
the
following
equation:
equation:
brates
brates index,
index, and
and isis index,
the
the total
total
number
number
of
of macmacmacroinvertebrates
and
n is the
total
is estimated
byfollowing
the following
equation:
number
of macroinvertebrates.
roinvertebrates.
roinvertebrates.
Biotic
Biotic Index=
Index=
∑
∑xx tt
The water
based
The
water quality
quality
quality classification
classification
classification based
based on
on the
the
the
Macroinvertebrates
Biotic
Index
is
given
in
Macroinvertebrates
Macroinvertebrates Biotic
Biotic Index
Index isis given
given in
in TaTaTable
5 below.
ble
ble 55 below.
below.
ii ii
nn
Table
Table
5.
Water
quality
classification
Table5.
5.Water
Waterquality
qualityclassification
classification
Classification
Classification
Biotic
Biotic index
index
Very
Very clean
clean
Clean
Clean
Slightlypolluted
Slightlypolluted
Polluted
Polluted
Very
Very polluted
polluted
<4.18
<4.18
4.18-5.09
4.18-5.09
5.10-5.91
5.10-5.91
5.92-7.05
5.92-7.05
>7.05
>7.05
Source:
Source: Bulgan,
Bulgan, 2008
2008
16 project.
16
16
Water
Quality
of Kharaa
the
Kharaa
River
Basin,
Mongolia:
Water
Water
Quality
Quality
of
of the
the
Kharaa
River
River
Basin,
Basin,
Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
The advantage of the Biotic Index is that it
gives a possibility to assess the quality of
water more precisely. But it requires that the
analysis is done by specialized experts in a
laboratory with special equipment.
Water Quality Index
The Mongolian National Standard for
Water Quality of the Aquatic Environment:
General Requirements MNS 4586-98,
developed by the Centre of Standardization
and Measure¬ments of Mongolia in 1998
(NSA, 1998) and still in force, provides a
national standard for principal water quality
parameters of the aquatic environment.
This standard includes 27 parameters. The
objective of this standard is control the quality
of surface and groundwater in Mongolia.
There is, so far, no internationally-agreed
stan-dard
for
physico-chemical
and
ecological wa¬ter quality of the aquatic
environment and water resources as rivers,
streams and lakes. Hence, the MNS 4586-98
has been applied for this study to evaluate
the quality of the Kharaa River water.
Pollution hotspot assessment
There are a number of methodologies on pollution hotspot analysis (Vidon et. al., 2010),
which are used worldwide. One of them is the
methodology developed by UNIDO (2013)
in the framework of the GEF-funded project
on the Dnieper River Basin (2000-2005).
The ap¬proach used in this methodology
is to assess and prioritize the sources of
industrial efflu¬ent discharges (hotspots) in a
river basin. Only point source pollutions are
considered under this methodology (http://
www.unido.org/what- we-do/environment/).
The following three steps are applied in this
ap-proach:
1. Preliminary screening: The number
of industries discharging their effluents into
a river and its tributaries is significant. The
goal of this step is to shortlist or reduce this
number into a manageable number for the
second step. The preliminary screening is
based on available wastewater data such as
biological oxygen de-mand (BOD5) or metal
concentration.
2.
Detailed evaluation: The objective
of the evaluation is to gather information on
the selected sites during the first step. Each
hot spot is evaluated based on the impact
of its discharges on the following issues:
(i) pollution control, (ii) water quality and
human health, (iii) biodiversity, and (iv)
socio-economic.
3.
Prioritization: Based on the data collected, each hot spot is scored. Higher score
will be given to hot spot with higher negative
impact. A rating is then established to classify
the industrial hotspots based on their impact
on the surface water.
The basic principles of the UNIDO's hotspot
assessment methodology are applied in the
pollution hotspot assessment of the Kharaa
Riv¬er Basin due to the availability of data
and the timeframe required for conducting a
compre-hensive assessment.
Furthermore, there are only few point
sources of pollution in the Kharaa River
Basin, except two municipal wastewater
treatment plants that discharge their treated
wastewater into the Kharaa River. But there
is no much informa¬tion of outflows of these
wastewater treatment plants. Thus, the focus
of the study was to ana¬lyze the Kharaa
River water quality, as detailed as possible,
using the available observed data on water
quality monitoring.
Pollution
project.
17
UNDP-GEF project
18
project.
UNDP-GEF project
2. Water
of the
2.Resources
Water Resources
RiverRiver
ofSelenge
the Selenge
Basin,
Basin,Mongolia
Mongolia
project.
©Batimaa P., 2013
UNDP-GEF project
The Selenge River Basin covers seven
provinces, including Zavkhan, Khuvsgul,
Bulgan, Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, Tuv, and
Selenge. Ulaanbaatar—the capital city of
Mongolia—is located on the bank of the
Tuul River, which is part of the Tuul-OrkhonSelenge River system. Few other cities such
as industrial cities of Darkhan (the second
biggest city) and Erdenet (the third biggest
city) are located in the Selenge River Basin.
Approximately 80 percent of the basin
landscape is classified as high mountain
plateau and mountainous taiga, 90 percent is
forest steppe and, 15 percent is steppe zone.
Due to the large area of the basin, the soil
conditions and formation processes present
differ significantly from region to region.
Within the Khangai, Khentii, and Khuvsgul
mountains, taiga, tundra, and mountain soils
prevail, while drysteppe soil is dominant
in the wide valley areas of the Orkhon and
Selenge rivers (Dorjgotov, 2003).
The basin belongs to different geographical
zones. The Selenge River Basin covers about
57.5 percent of the total Mongolian high
mountain areas, 64.6 percent of the forest
steppe, and 13.6 percent of the steppe zone
area (National Atlas, 2009). The area of
the Selenge River Basin does not have any
desert, which indicates favorable ecological
and climatic conditions of the area.
2.1. Hydrology
The water resources of the Selenge River Basin
contain about 50 percent of total surface
water resources of Mongolia (Myagmarjav
and Davaa, 1999).
The Selenge River forms at the confluence of
the Ider, Delgermuren and Bugsei rivers in
the northern Mongolia. It is one of the biggest
freshwater resources in Mongolia. Its
drainage area is 282 154 square kilometers
(Myagmarjav and Davaa, 1999). The Selenge
River is a transboundary water system,
located between latitudes 46 and 52°N and
longitudes 96 and 109°E. The river flows
northeastwards through Mongolia to Russia,
emptying to Lake Baikal.
The Selenge River forms a large delta on the
southeast shoreline of Lake Baikal. Average
annual precipitation is 350-400 mm in
the upper river reaches of the basin in the
Khangai, Khentii and Khuvsgul mountains
and 300-350 mm in the middle water way,
while it is in the range of, or lower than,
250-300 mm in downstream valleys. About
70 percent of the total annual precipitation
falls during the summer months from June to
September (National Atlas, 2009).
The rivers directly flow into Selenge River
are Orkhon, Eg and Khanui. The long-term
average runoff data at the gauging stations
on the Selenge River and its tributaries are
given in Table 6 (Myagmarjav et al, 2012).
2.2. Hydrochemistry
In terms of chemical composition, the rivers
in the Selenge River Basin are similar in that
calcium (Ca2+) and bicarbonate (HCO3-),are
the dominant ions. About 90-100 percent of
the all samples show the dominance
of bicarbonate and 70-90 percent the
dominance of calcium. During winter lowwater periods and in years of drought, the
Na++K+ appear to be dominant ions. The
long-term mean of total dissolved salts,
or mineralization of the main river, varies
between 128-255 mg/l (Table 7).
20 project.
UNDP-GEF project
Table
Table6.6.Hydrological
Hydrologicalparameters
parametersofofrivers
riversininthe
theSelenge
SelengeRiver
Riverand
anditsitstributaries
tributaries
No
River-station
Period of
observation
Area,
km2
1
2
3
4
5
7
11
12
13
14
16
17
Selenge-Khutag
Selenge-Khyalgant
Selenge-Zuunburen
Ider-Zurkh
Delgermuren-Muren
Bugsei-Tumerbulag
Eg-Erdenebulgan
Eg-Khantai
Orkhon-Kharkhorin
Orkhon-Orkhon
Orkhon-Orkhon Tuul
Orkhon-Sukhbaatar
1945-2010
1982-2010
1975-2010
1960-2010
1947-2010
1964-2010
1973-2010
1959-2010
1970-2010
1945-2010
1971-2010
1950-2010
92300
143500
148000
21300
18900
2761
15300
41000
6410
36400
96000
132000
Mean
elevation, m
Discharge,
m3 /sec
Specific
runoff, l/sec
km2
1909
1220
1200
2179
2023
1980
1857
1708
2241
1900
1880
1200
132.7
306.6
248.5
33.9
36.1
1.57
26.6
99.2
13.3
41.6
81.1
129.4
Runoff
depth, mm
1.44
2.14
1.68
1.59
1.91
0.57
1.74
2.42
2.08
1.14
0.84
0.98
45.4
67.4
53.0
50.2
60.3
17.9
54.8
76.4
65.5
36.1
26.7
30.9
Source: Myagmarjav et al, 2012.
Accordingtotosome
somestudies
studies
(Myagmarjav
et.
According
(Myagmarjav
et. al.,
al.,
2012),
the
runoff
of
the
Selenge
River
2012), the runoff of the Selenge River Basin
Basin has decreased in all seasons, except
for winter
for in
theallperiod
from
1945forthrough
has
decreased
seasons,
except
winter
2008.
for the period from 1945 through 2008.
Table
Table7.7.Long-term
Long-termmean
meanconcentration
concentrationofofmajor
majorions
ionsininthe
theSelenge
SelengeRiverand
Riveranditsitstributaries
tributaries
Rivers
TDS
Ca2+
Mg2+
Na++K+
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
HCO3mg/l
SO4-mg/l
Clmg/l
Selenge
253.7
34.9
10.3
15.6
1578
18.6
5.9
Ider
162.2
25.2
6.8
14.0
104.6
14.1
7.9
Delgermuren
254.5
39.3
9.2
10.0
170.0
17.9
3.6
Eg
234.6
332
11.4
9.8
160.0
12.9
3.9
Orkhon
226.1
26.6
8.9
25.7
142.7
18.5
10.8
Eree
128.9
14.5
4.8
10.5
75.7
10.8
4.4
Data source:Central Laboratory for Environment and Meteorology
Table 8. Long-term mean concentrations of chemical pollutants in the Selenge and its tributaries
Table 8. Long-term mean concentrations of chemical pollutants in the Selenge and its tributaries
Rivers
NH4
NO3
PO4
Si
Permanganate
Value
BOD
O2
9.6
Selenge
0.190
0.265
0.037
5.9
3.2
2.1
Ider
0.170
0.280
0.015
4.1
3.2
1.5
Delgermuren
0.110
0.150
0.021
2.6
2.7
2.2
Eg
0.107
0.190
0.024
2.9
3.2
1.9
8.7
Hardness
as Ca 2++Mg 2+
pH
2.4
7.8
1.9
7.5
2.8
7.7
2.4
7.7
Orkhon
0.247
0.357
0.040
5.8
3.5
2.7
10.4
2.1
7.6
Eree
0.224
0.311
0.030
6.7
4.0
1.5
11.1
2.6
7.7
Data source: Central Laboratory for Environment and Meteorology
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
21
21
UNDP-GEF project
2.3. Water quality
2.3. Water quality
The Selenge River’s water quality is generally
The SelengetoRiver’s
waterThe
quality
is generally
considered
be good.
long-term
mean
considered
to
be
good.
The
long-term
mean
concentrations main water quality parameters
concentrations
waterand
quality
parameters
(such
as BOD main
and DO)
concentrations
(such
as
BOD
and
DO)
and
concentrations
of chemical pollutants, ammonium-nitrogen,
of chemical pollutants,
ammonium-nitrogen,
nitrate-nitrogen,
orthophosphate
and permannitrate-nitrogen,
orthophosphate
and
ganate do not exceed the respective Maximum
permanganate do not exceed the respective
Acceptable Concentrations (Table 8).
Maximum
Acceptable
Concentrations
(Table 8).
The
pollution in
in the
the Selenge
Selenge River,
River,
The nutrient
nutrient pollution
which
cause of
of water
water
which isis generally
generally the
the primary
primary cause
quality
impairments
in
rivers
and
lakes,
is
very
quality impairments in rivers and lakes, is very
low.
orthophosphate,
as
low.Low
Lowconcentrations
concentrationsofof
orthophosphate,
shown
in Table
8, indicate
that there
no evias shown
in Table
8, indicate
thatisthere
is
dent risk of water quality impairments caused
nothe
evident
risk of
of chemical
water quality
impairments
by
presence
fertilizers,
polluted
caused
by
the
presence
of
chemical
fertilizers,
storm water run-off, and poorly treated sewage
polluted
water run-off, and poorly
or
leaking storm
septic systems.
treated sewage or leaking septic systems.
With respect to hydrobiology and ecological
With respect to hydrobiology and ecological
water
thethe
Selenge
RiverRiver
and its
tribuwater quality,
quality,of of
Selenge
and
its
taries
are also
to be in
tributaries
areconsidered
also considered
to good
be incondigood
tions.
The number
of Ephemeroptera,
Plecopconditions.
The number
of Ephemeroptera,
tera,
Trichoptera
(EPT) individuals
in the
Plecoptera,
Trichoptera
(EPT) found
individuals
Selenge
River
its some
tributaries
aresome
given
found in
theand
Selenge
River
and its
in
Table 9. The
summary
of macroinvertebrates
tributaries
are given
in Table
9. The summary
macroinvertebrates
isofshown
in Table 10. is shown in Table 10.
Table9.9.Ephemeroptera,
Ephemeroptera,Plecoptera,
Plecoptera,Trichoptera
Trichopteraindividuals
individualsfound
foundininthe
theSelenge
Selengeriver
riverand
anditsitstributaries
tributaries
Table
№
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Stations
Selbe-Sanzai
Selenge-Khutag
Selenge-Sukhbaatar
Selenge-Khyalganat
Kharaa-Baruunkharaa
Kharaa-Darkhan
Achuut-Bulgan
Zuunturuu-Bulgan
Ider-Tosontsengel
Tuul-Lun
Tuul-Altanbulag
Tuul-Ulaanbaatar
Terelj-Terelj
Urdtamit-Tsetserleg
Chuluut-Chuluut
Shariyngol-Jibsnii stants
Eg-Khantai
Total
2005
4
2
3
7
5
12
4
5
6
0
2
12
5
10
7
3
5
112
2006
6
4
22
11
8
6
6
4
2
0
5
20
11
7
6
2
6
140
2007
8
5
11
13
9
3
5
2
11
2
0
8
3
4
7
4
17
124
2008
6
16
5
11
31
10
3
4
10
0
3
4
18
18
3
4
18
168
2009
13
6
4
25
34
12
6
5
2
47
6
40
5
9
4
5
5
294
2010
0
0
77
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
38
66
1
0
0
4
0
276
Data source: Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment
In order to evaluate the quality of the Selenge
River
water,
flowingthe
outquality
of Mongolia
at the
In order
to evaluate
of the Selenge
Mongolia-Russia
border,
dataatat the
the
River water flowing
outmonitoring
of Mongolia
Mongolia-Russia
border,
monitoring
data
at
outlet of the Sukhbaatar station on the Selenge
the outlet
the Sukhbaatar
stationofon
the
River
were of
assessed
for the period
2001Selenge
River
were
assessed
for
the
period
2010. The assessment is based on the Water
of 2001-2010.
Theparameters
assessmentofis five
based
on
Quality
Index and
major
the Water Quality Index and parameters of
five major chemical pollutants, described in
chemical pollutants, described in section 1.3.3,
using
all observed/sampled
between 2001
section
1.3.3, using all data
observed/sampled
and
at the2001
station.
to the
WQI
data2010
between
andAccording
2010 at the
station.
According
to
the
WQI
based
on
these
based on these parameters, the Selenge River
parameters,
Selenge
Riverstation
water appears
quality
water
quality the
at the
Sukhbaatar
at
the
Sukhbaatar
station
appears
from
from very clean to clean. The results are very
preclean to
The results are presented in
sented
in clean.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Quality of the Kharaa River Basin, Mongolia:
22 The intellectual property rights belong to UNOPS and UNDP, the information should not beWater
used by a third party before consulting with the
Water
Quality
of the Kharaa River Basin, Mongolia:
22 project.
UNDP-GEF project
In addition, the water quality of the Selenge
River
has been
by the of
Biotic
at
In addition,
theassessed
water quality
the Index
Selenge
three
sites—namely,
Khutag,
Khyalganat
and
River has been assessed by the Biotic Index at
Sukhbaatar—for
the period
of 2005-2010.
The
three sites—namely,
Khutag,
Khyalganat and
results
are presented
Figureof4.2005-2010.
The water
Sukhbaatar—for
the in
period
The results
presented
4. The
quality
of theare
Selenge
River in
at Figure
these sites
apwater quality of the Selenge River at these
pears to be also clean. Populations of pollutant
sensitive
insectstowere
found
at these
sampling
sites appears
be also
clean.
Populations
sites
for
the
period
of
2005
and
2010,
indicatof pollutant sensitive insects were found
at
ing
therefore
thatsites
the good
quality
of the
these
sampling
for the
period
of water
2005
conditions.
and 2010, indicating therefore that the good
quality of the water conditions.
Table 10. Summary analysis of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate at different stations in the Selenge River and its
№
Metric (by category)
Chuluut
Eg
Sharyingol
KharaaBaruunkha
KharaaDarkhan
Orkhonn
Terelj
Uliastai
Selbe
Tuul-UB
Tuul-lun
Table
10. Summary
analysis of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate at different stations in the Selenge River and its
tributaries
(2005-2010)
tributaries (2005-2010)
1
Total Taxa Richness
13
5
10
11
21
12
10
18
13
15
7
10
14
7
2
Taxa Richness of EPT
9
4
5
6
12
6
10
9
9
8
12
6
10
7
7
11
6
3
Simpson's Diversity
Index
Simpson's
Reciprocal Index
Total individuals of
Taxa
Individuals of EPT
Taxa
Individuals of
Ephemeroptera
Individuals of
Plecoptera
Individuals of
Trichoptera
0.9
0.6
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.8
9.4
2.6
5.1
3
6
6.4
7.1
5.4
4.6
5.5
6.7
3.7
3
3.3
6.3
4.3
6
54
343
46
276
178
60
115
196
200
79
233
146
88
113
51
144
13
34
342
22
260
133
50
97
169
188
77
170
45
74
113
36
125
10
17
4
10
226
110
21
38
109
136
41
132
29
61
65
27
71
7
15
338
6
33
16
11
1
0
28
24
21
13
9
43
3
26
1
2
0
6
1
7
18
58
60
24
12
17
3
4
5
6
28
2
10
Dominant Taxon
18.5
53.1
37
43.5
33.1
26.7
18.3
32.1
38.5
31.6
25.8
48.6
56.8
41.6
31.4
43.1
38.5
11
EPT Taxa
69.2
80
50
54.5
57.1
66.7
90.9
64.3
75
80
66.7
46.2
66.7
100
70
78.6
85.7
12
EPT Individuals
63
99.7
47.8
94.2
74.7
83.3
84.3
86.2
94
97.5
73
30.8
84.1
100
70.6
86.8
76.9
13
Chironomidae
14.8
0
2.2
0
0.6
6.7
0
2.6
3
0
2.1
0
1.1
0
0
0
0
4
5
6
7
8
9
Zuunturuu
Achuut
SelengeKhyalgana
t
Urdtamir
SelengeKhutag
Ider
Selenge River tributaries
Richness and Diversity
9
11
14
Composition and Evenness
Tolerance/Intolerance
14
Sensitive Organisms
45.3
100
67.5
96.3
61
78.4
96.4
54.3
62.1
48.5
71.1
84.6
83.2
68.2
72.4
63.8
37
15
Moderate-Sensitive
Organisms
Tolerant Organisms
24.5
-
30
2.1
26.3
14.8
2.7
33.4
11.1
38
10.9
13.9
10.7
27.1
7.9
32.4
51.1
30.2
-
2.5
1.6
12.7
6.8
0.9
12.3
26.8
13.5
18
1.5
6.1
4.8
19.7
3.8
11.9
16
Data source: Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment
Figure 3. Water quality index at the Sukhbaatar of the
Figure 3. Water quality
index
Selenge
Riverat the Sukhbaatar of
the Selenge River
Figure 4. Biotic Index results at three sites of the
Figure 4. Biotic Index
results
at three sites of the
Selenge
River
Selenge River
23
Pollution
23
project.
UNDP-GEF project
24 project.
24
Water
Quality
ofof
the
Water
Quality
theKharaa
KharaaRiver
RiverBasin,
Basin,Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
WaterQuality
Quality
3.3.Water
Assessmentof
ofthe
the
Assessment
Kharaa
KharaaRiver
RiverBasin
Basin
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
©Batimaa P., 2013
25
UNDP-GEF project
The Kharaa River Basin is shared among
three administrative regions, called aimags
(equivalent to provinces)—namely, Selenge
aimag, Tuv aimag and Darkhan-Uul aimag.
The basin also includes the rapidly-growing
industrial city of Darkhan, which is the third
largest city with 74,738 inhabitants as of
2010 (NSO, 2010).
The entire population of the Kharaa River
Basin is about 133,000.
The Kharaa River Basin is under increasing
pressure from rapid urbanization, rising
water demand and climate change. The
upper basin is in a relatively pristine state
and has experienced minimal anthropogenic
impacts. The lower basin is characterized by
diverse economic activities such as industry,
agriculture and livestock breeding, which
may potentially have significant impacts on
the quantity and quality of water resources
of the basin. Furthermore, the basin provides
drinking water for the rapidly-growing
Darkhan City, which water supplies largely
rely on alluvial aquifers containing shallowdepth groundwater, and the inhabitants of
small human settlements in the basin.
Hence, growing pressures from climate
change and anthropogenic activities on the
Kharaa River (Figure 5) makes the basin
an ideal example of river basins under a
spectrum of climatic and anthropogenic
pressures.
3.1. Hydrology and hydrogeology
3.1.1. Surface water
The Kharaa River Basin is located in northern
Mongolia, not far away from the capital
Ulaanbaatar, between latitudes 47°53’
and 49°38’N and longitudes 105°19’ and
107°22’E. The catchment area of the basin is
about 15,050 square kilometers (Battsetseg,
2011). The lowest elevation is about 654
meters a.s.l. and is found near the outlet of
the catchment, whereas the highest point
is about 2668 meters a.s.l. and is located
in the vicinity of the Asralt Khairhan (2799
meters a.s.l.)—the highest peak of the
Khentii Mountains range and the area of the
headwaters of some important Mongolian
rivers. In around 60 percent of the basin area,
the elevation ranges between 900 and 1300
meters a.s.l. The average altitude of the
whole catchment is 1,167 meters (Figure 6).
At 291 km in length, the Kharaa River
originates in the mountains north of
Ulaanbaatar and passes through Selenge and
Darkhan-Uul provinces in central northern
Mongolia before emptying into the Orkhon
River.
The annual mean discharge ranged from
3.84 to 26.3 m3/s between 1991 and 2010
(Battsetseg, 2011). Together with the Orkhon
River, the Kharaa River discharges to the
Selenge River Basin, which is the main
catchment region of Lake Baikal.
The upper course of the Kharaa River is
characterized by mid- to high mountain
ranges of the Khentii Mountains, with steep
valley slopes and rises. The summit region
Asralt Khairhan, which peak altitude is 2799
meters a.s.l., is dominated by denudated,
flattened and periglacially transformed
mountains (MoMo, 2009). In the middle
reaches, the relief is dominated by broad
valleys with significant terrace levels and
hilly uplands with gentle slopes, as well as
remnants of denudated rocks.
26 project.
UNDP-GEF project
©Batimaa, P., 2013
Figure
The Kharaa
Kharaa River
River at
at Baruunkharaa
Baruunkharaa hydrological
hydrological gauging
gauging station
station (21
(21 July
July 2012)
2012)
Figure 5.
5. The
Figure
The Kharaa
Kharaa River
River Basin
water quality
quality monitoring
monitoring sites
sites
Figure 6.
6. The
Basin and
and water
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
27
27
UNDP-GEF project
In
the the
Kharaa
River River
flows
In this
thisriver
riversection,
section,
Kharaa
flows through
wide floodplain
has a
through
a widea floodplain
and hasand
a meanmeandering
channel
25 meters
dering
channel
of 10 of
to10
25tometers
widewide
and
and
from
0.2
to
2
meters
deep.
Upstream
from 0.2 to 2 meters deep. Upstream of the
of the
city of Zuunkharaa,
the into
riverseveral
splits
city
of Zuunkharaa,
the river splits
into
several
small
and
shallow
branches.
small and shallow branches. The lower reaches
The lower
reachesstation
from the
gauging station
from
the gauging
at Baruunkharaa
to
at Baruunkharaa to the confluence of the
the confluence of the Kharaa River with the
Kharaa River with the Orkhon River is an
Orkhon River is an open steppe and lowland
open steppe and lowland landscape. In the
landscape.
In Kharaa
the lowlands,
the Kharaa
River
lowlands, the
River flows
as a natural
meandering
rivermeandering
system withriver
ancient
cut-off
flows
as a natural
system
with
meanders
in some
places.
ancient
cut-off
meanders
in some places.
Channelization was
was conducted
conducted only
only in
Channelization
in some
some
very
limited
river
areas.
Therefore,
the
very limited river areas. Therefore, the floodfloodplain
meadow
still
serves
its
natural
plain meadow still serves its natural retention
retention function, a situation which is
function, a situation which is important for naimportant for nature conservation.
ture conservation.
3.1.2. Groundwater
3.1.2.
Groundwater
The Kharaa River Basin is mainly
characterized
by unconfined
alluvialcharacteraquifers.
The
Kharaa River
Basin is mainly
The
unconfined
groundwater
aquifers
ized by unconfined alluvial aquifers. The are
uncharacterized
by alluvial
sandareand
gravel
confined
groundwater
aquifers
characterwithby
interlaced
sandy
(Batsukh,
2007).
ized
alluvial sand
andloam
gravel
with interlaced
Due
to
the
porous
media,
the
conductivity
sandy loam (Batsukh, 2007). Due to the porous
of the aquifer
is high, mainly
10 is
to high,
100
media,
the conductivity
of thefrom
aquifer
m/day and partly up to 300m/day. The main
mainly from 10 to 100 m/day and partly up
water bearing stratum extends with a width of
to 300m/day. The main water bearing stratum
10 to 20 kilometers along the Kharaa River,
extends
width ofa 10
to 20 kilometers
reaches with
near aDarkhan
thickness
of 70 m,
along
the
Kharaa
River,
reaches
Darkhan
and is divided up into differentnear
layers.
The
a thickness of 70 m, and is divided up into dif-
groundwater recharge from precipitation is
very low
in the
Darkhan
area. recharge from
ferent
layers.
The
groundwater
The
recharge
depends
inflowarea.
of
precipitation is very low inon
thethe
Darkhan
groundwater
from aquifers
of the
upper
The
recharge depends
on the inflow
of groundcatchment
area
where
the
precipitation
and
water from aquifers of the upper catchment
groundwater
infiltration
are
much
higher.
area where the precipitation and groundwater
infiltration are much higher.
The “exploitable groundwater resources” of
the Kharaa River Basin has been estimated at
The “exploitable groundwater resources” of
182 million cubic meters, as shown in Table
the
Kharaa River
Basin has been estimated at
11 (Jadambaa,
2012).
182 million cubic meters, as shown in Table 11
(Jadambaa, 2012).
Table 11. Exploitable groundwater resources of the Kharaa River Basin
Table 11.Exploitable groundwater resources of the Kharaa River Basin
Area (sq.km..)
No of
aquifers
1
3
7
8
11
12
13
Total
250
3121
46
67
4719
234
9026
17463
Resources per unit area,
m3/sec per sq.km.
315000
31500
5203
5203
520
5203
94.6
Total resources per unit area,
mln m3/year per sq.km.
79
98
0.24
0.35
2
1
1
182
Data source: Jadambaa, 2012
3.2. Hydrochemistry
3.2.
Hydrochemistry
In general, concentrations of the chemical
composition of the headwaters of the Kharaa
In general, concentrations of the chemical
River are near the natural background
composition
of increase
the headwaters
the Kharaa
conditions and
towardsofdownstream
River are near the natural background conditions and increase towards downstream along
along the river. Slightly higher concentrations
were observed after snow melting and heavy
the river. Slightly higher concentrations were
rainy periods and dry years (Batimaa, 1998).
observed after snow melting and heavy rainy
periods and dry years (Batimaa, 1998).
28 project.
28
Water
Quality
ofof
the
Water
Quality
theKharaa
KharaaRiver
RiverBasin,
Basin,Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
3.2.1. Major
3.2.1.
Majorions
ions
The monthly mean concentrations of total
The
monthlysalts,
meanorconcentrations
of total
disdissolved
mineralization,
which
2+
+
+
2+
solved
the sum
Mg is
, HCO
-,
is the salts,
sum or
ofmineralization,
Ca , Na +K ,which
3
2+
+
+
2+
22of
,
Na
+K
,
Mg
,
HCO
-,
SO
and
Cl
and
Clions,
in
the
Kharaa
River
vary
SOCa
4
3
4
ions, in the Kharaa River vary between 162.2
between 162.2 and 335.7 mg/l and increase
and
335.7 mg/land
in the
downstream
are
in downstream
areincrease
as along
river length
as
along12).
theThe
riverconcentrations
length (Table 12).
con(Table
also The
increase
centrations
also
increase
during
snow
melting
during snow melting periods.
periods.
Table 12. Annual distribution of average concentrations of total dissolved salts, or mineralization
Table 12. Annual distribution of average concentrations of total dissolved salts, or mineralization
Stations
Zuunkharaa
(upper)
Zuunkharaa
(down)
Darkhan
(upper)
Darkhan
(down)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
-
-
-
199.2
-
189.4
166.2
168.4
213.0
188.3
214.8
-
-
-
-
248.4
-
189.3
174.2
176.9
203.7
208.6
223.7
-
218.8
224.3
256.3
262.2
298.3
283.8
269.1
245.4
229.1
237.4
261.9
197.9
264.7
290.6
268.6
275.5
335.7
294.8
273.6
284.4
270.1
270.1
300.6
253.7
In
cases,
the calcium
and bicarIn most
mostofofthethe
cases,
the calcium
and
bonate
are
the
dominant
ions
at
all
monitoring
bicarbonate are the dominant ions at all
stations
of thestations
Kharaa of
River.
to the
monitoring
theAccording
Kharaa River.
Piper
diagramtoandthe
classifications
of O.A. and
AleAccording
Piper diagram
classifications
of O.ofA.theAlekin,
in order
a vast
kin,
in a vast majority
cases the
of
2+
majority of of
thecations
cases is
theCaorder
of+abundance
abundance
>Na
+K+>Mg2+
2+
+
2+
>Na++Kof
>Mg
and
theof cations
and
the orderisof Ca
abundance
anions
is HCO
3
2order >Cl
of abundance
is upstream
HCO3->
. This orderofis anions
clearer in
>SO
4
This order
is clearer
in upstream
SO42->Cl
areas,
as .observed
at the
Zuunkharaa
upper
monitoring
station on
the Zuunkharaa
Kharaa River upper
(Figure
areas, as observed
at the
7).
In
the
downstream
from
Darkhan
city,
the
monitoring station on the Kharaa River
order
of 7).
abundance
of anions isfrom
the same
as in
(Figure
In the downstream
Darkhan
the
station,
while the order
of abuncity,upstream
the order
of abundance
of anions
is
the same
as in the
upstream
station, while
dance
of anions
becomes
considerably
unstathe as
order
of abundance
of anions
ble,
observed
at the Darkhan
downbecomes
monitorconsiderably
unstable,
as observed
at the
ing
station on the
river (Figure
8).
Darkhan down monitoring station on the
river (Figure 8).
Figure
salts and
and cations
cations and
and anions
anions
Figure7.
7. Relationship
Relationship between
between total
total dissolved
dissolved salts
(Kharaa-Zuunkharaa (upper))
(upper))
(Kharaa-Zuunkharaa
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
29
29
UNDP-GEF project
Figure
cations and
and anions
anions
Figure8.
8. Relationship
Relationship between
between total
total dissolved
dissolved salts and cations
(Kharaa-Darkhan
(down))
(Kharaa-Darkhan (down))
Theoverall
overall
assessment
the chemical
The
assessment
of theofchemical
compocomposition
hasgood
shown
good
chemical
sition
has shown
chemical
conditions
at
conditions
at
all
sampling
sites
on
the
Kharaa
all sampling sites on the Kharaa River.
River.
The Kharaa River water is moderately hard and
ThepHKharaa
water
moderately
hard
its
varies River
between
6.9isand
8.2. Chloride
and its pH varies between 6.9 and 8.2.
concentrations appear to be higher in downChloride concentrations appear to be higher
stream areas compared to in the upstream
in downstream areas compared to in the
region
near
the Zuunkharaa
upper sampling
upstream
region
near the Zuunkharaa
upper
point.
Higher
levels
of chloride
be indicasampling
point.
Higher
levels ofmay
chloride
may
tive
of possibleofwater
pollution.
be indicative
possible
water pollution.
The results
results of the MoMo
The
MoMo (2009)
(2009) study
study show
show
very similar
similarresults
resultsofofthe
thechemical
chemicalanalysis
analysis
very
of
of
the
Kharaa
River
water
quality.
the Kharaa River water quality.
In general,
general, the
the quality
In
quality of
of surface
surface waters
waters in
in the
the
mountainous
region
of
the
Kharaa
River
Basin
mountainous region of the Kharaa River Basin
is good with low nutrient concentrations,
is good with low nutrient concentrations, tototal solids concentrations ranging from 17
tal solids concentrations ranging from 17 to 60
to 60 mg/l, very low chloride concentrations
mg/l,
very low
chloride
concentrations
between
2 and
4 mg/l,
and heavybetween
metal
2concentrations
and 4 mg/l, and
heavybelow
metal concentrations
almost
the detection
almost
the detection
limits. However,
in
limits. below
However,
in the middle
and lower
the
middle
and
lower
reaches
there
are
the
nureaches there are the nutrient concentrations
concentrations
tend tothe
increase,
whereas
Monthly
concentrations of
major ions,
ions, trient
Monthly mean
mean concentrations
of major
tend to
increase, whereas
total dissolved
total
dissolved solids
are as
hardness
monitoring
stations
are the
hardnessand
andpH
pHatatallall
monitoring
stations
solids
concentrations
areconcentrations
as high as 100-340
are given
in Table
mg/lasand
the chloride
range
high
100-340
mg/l andconcentrations
the chloride concengiven
in Table
13. 13.
betweenrange
10 tobetween
17 mg/l.10 to 17 mg/l.
trations
3.2.2. Dissolved oxygen
3.2.2. Dissolved oxygen
Dissolved oxygen is absolutely essential for
the survival of all aquatic organisms-not only
Dissolved
is absolutely such
essential
the
fish, but oxygen
also invertebrates
as for
crabs,
survival
of
all
aquatic
organisms—not
only
fish,
clams, zooplankton, etc. Moreover, oxygen
but
alsoa invertebrates
such
as water
crabs, quality
clams,
affects
vast number of
other
indicators inetc.
terms
of notoxygen
only physical
zooplankton,
Moreover,
affects a
chemical
andofbiological
parameters
of water
vast
number
other water
quality indicators
quality,
of the and
esthetic
in
terms ofbut
notalso
onlyindicators
physical chemical
bioquality
of
river’s
water
like
the
odor,
clarity
logical parameters of water quality, but also inand taste.
Consequently,
oxygen
is perhaps
dicators
of the
esthetic quality
of river’s
water
the
most
well-established
indicator
of water
like the odor, clarity and taste. Consequently,
quality.is The
levelthe
ofmost
dissolved
oxygen isina
oxygen
perhaps
well-established
dicator of water quality. The level of dissolved
much more important parameter to measure
water quality than faecal coliform (Hunt et
oxygen
is a much more important parameter
al, 2000).
to measure water quality than faecal coliform
(Hunt
et al, 2000).oxygen concentrations in
The dissolved
the Kharaa River water are monitored only
at thedissolved
two sampling
of the Darkhan
The
oxygenpoints
concentrations
in the
monitoring
Kharaa
River station:
water areDarkhan
monitoredupper
only atand
the
Darkhan
down.
The
dissolved
oxygen
two sampling points of the Darkhan moniconcentration
is not upper
measured
at the
toring
station: Darkhan
and Darkhan
Zuunkharaa
monitoring
station.
down.
The dissolved
oxygen
concentration is
not measured at the Zuunkharaa monitoring
station.
30 project.
30
Water
Quality
ofofthe
Water
Quality
theKharaa
KharaaRiver
RiverBasin,
Basin,Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
Table 13.Monthly mean concentrations of major ions of the Kharaa River
Table 13. Monthly mean concentrations of major ions of the Kharaa River
Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Zuunkharaa upper
2+
Ca
Mg2+
Na+ +K+
HCO3
-
-
-
-
30.4
9.4
-
27.5
9.2
25.6
7.3
25.3
7.0
23.7
6.0
27.9
8.4
32.0
8.9
-
-
-
-
7.5
-
8.2
8.2
8.0
24.2
8.8
11.4
-
-
-
-
133.5
-
129.4
119.8
114.8
142.8
127.0
142.7
-
SO42-
-
-
-
13.6
-
10.5
7.9
8.1
11.2
11.7
15.6
-
-
Cl
-
-
-
4.2
-
3.9
3.6
4.2
5.1
4.0
3.9
-
Hardness
-
-
-
2.3
-
2.1
1.9
1.8
1.7
2.1
2.3
-
pH
-
-
-
7.4
-
7.3
7.4
7.0
6.9
7.3
7.2
-
Zuunkharaa down
Ca2+
-
-
-
33.6
-
26.7
27.2
27.5
25.6
29.6
33.2
-
-
-
-
11.1
-
7.9
6.1
8.0
6.5
9.8
8.6
-
Na +K
-
-
-
9.9
-
9.8
7.1
7.2
7.4
9.2
7.6
-
HCO3-
-
-
-
170.7
-
122.4
111.8
117.4
106.8
133.0
133.5
-
-
-
-
17.9
-
4.9
6.3
6.1
5.0
7.4
11.2
-
Cl
-
-
-
7.7
-
4.9
6.3
6.1
5.0
7.4
11.2
-
Hardness
-
-
-
2.6
-
2.0
1.8
2.1
1.8
2.3
2.4
-
pH
-
-
-
7.3
-
7.2
7.3
7.0
7.4
7.3
7.1
-
2+
Mg
+
SO4
+
2-
-
Darkhan Upper
2+
Ca
33.5
32.3
33.4
31.8
31.2
30.5
32.4
29.8
31.1
31.0
32.5
31.9
Mg2+
11.6
14.6
14.7
12.8
12.9
12.5
13.0
10.5
10.5
12.6
12.9
12.6
27.7
30.1
24.7
23.9
27.2
28.2
23.3
25.6
24.9
26.4
29.4
25.7
182.2
190.8
166.8
164.0
169.8
157.1
160.3
162.1
159.7
161.4
182.7
170.2
+
+
Na +K
HCO3
SO4
-
2-
35.5
28.6
34.6
31.9
35.7
30.4
34.9
28.8
32.8
35.5
31.4
26.2
Cl-
8.2
9.2
8.8
7.5
9.6
8.2
11.5
9.3
6.5
14.0
9.4
7.7
Hardness
2.7
2.8
2.8
2.6
2.7
2.7
2.7
2.4
2.6
2.7
2.7
2.7
pH
8.1
7.8
8.1
8.0
8.1
8.0
8.1
8.0
8.1
8.2
8.2
29.8
34.5
29.0
24.6
31.0
31.4
30.3
27.6
26.7
29.6
34.3
34.6
11.4
12.1
11.9
9.6
12.3
12.1
12.8
11.1
10.0
13.2
12.4
13.4
21.8
27.4
18.0
18.0
22.0
23.7
21.8
20.2
21.7
29.6
33.1
27.1
8.0
Darkhan down
Ca2+
2+
Mg
+
+
Na +K
HCO3
-
141.7
171.9
154.3
131.1
153.2
154.8
163.7
147.3
146.8
164.8
182.5
173.2
SO42-
28.9
31.3
23.6
26.7
30.4
29.8
29.2
27.1
30.8
34.1
36.8
29.9
-
13.7
15.8
11.7
8.6
11.4
9.1
12.9
8.4
9.1
13.2
11.7
13.4
Hardness
2.4
2.7
2.3
2.0
2.3
2.6
2.4
2.1
2.1
2.7
2.7
2.8
pH
8.1
8.2
7.9
8.1
8.1
8.1
8.0
8.0
8.2
8.2
8.2
Cl
8.1
The dissolved oxygen concentrations at the and minimum concentrations of dissolved
The dissolved oxygen concentrations at the mum concentrations of dissolved oxygen are
Darkhan sampling points vary from 3.8 to oxygen are given below in Table 14.
Darkhan
sampling
points vary
from 3.8
to 14.0 given below in Table 14.
14.0 mg/l.
The monthly
mean,
maximum
mg/l. The monthly mean, maximum and mini-
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
31
31
UNDP-GEF project
Table
Table14.
14.Annual
Annualdistribution
distributionof
ofdissolved
dissolvedoxygen
oxygenconcentrations
concentrations
Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Darkhan upper
Average
9.12
8.83
9.46
10.63
9.25
8.87
8.74
9.06
10.04
11.19
10.35
10.00
Max
12.16
12.10
12.00
18.80
14.00
11.60
11.20
12.40
13.60
13.40
13.60
12.09
Min
6.00
6.10
6.66
7.37
6.14
5.80
6.80
6.10
8.00
8.56
8.10
8.28
Darkhan down
Average
8.47
9.89
9.89
9.43
8.82
8.93
8.21
8.87
9.50
10.96
9.91
9.59
Max
11.70
14.80
14.80
12.15
10.90
12.43
10.70
12.60
12.72
14.90
12.64
12.00
Min
6.33
7.80
7.80
4.03
6.00
6.40
6.10
1.20
5.40
5.44
5.21
5.80
The
regard
to the
waterwater
qualThe trend
trendwith
with
regard
to river’s
the river’s
ity
assessed
for dissolved
oxygen conditions
quality
assessed
for dissolved
oxygen
over
a twenty-five
period is
shown
in Figconditions
over ayears
twenty-five
years
period
is
ure
9. Between
and 2011,
there
no
shown
in Figure1986
9. Between
1986
andwas
2011,
there was significant
no statistically
significant
statistically
trend in
dissolvedtrend
oxyin dissolved
based
the monthly
gen,
based on oxygen,
the monthly
spotonmeasurements.
spotthe
measurements.
Ondissolved
the other
hand,conthe
On
other hand, the
oxygen
dissolved oxygen
concentrations
quitea year,
vary
centrations
quite vary
seasonally within
seasonally
within
a
year,
as
shown
in
Table
as shown in Table 14. No clear reason can be
14. No
reason change,
can be while
foundvariations
for this
found
forclear
this seasonal
seasonal change, while variations from year
from year to year can be caused by a variety of
to year can be caused by a variety of factors,
factors, such as the weather conditions precedsuch as the weather conditions preced¬ing
ing
sample
collection,water
water temperature,
temperature,
the the
sample
collection,
other
quality
parameters
(e.g., nutrients),
other water
water
quality
parameters
(e.g.,
and
the
time
of
sample
collection.
In order to
nutrients), and the time of sample collection.
look
assess
any long-term
in dissolved
In order
to look
assess anychanges
long-term
changes
oxygen
concentrations
and
their
in dissolved oxygen concentrations causes,
and theira
more
continuous
dissolved oxycauses,
a more monitoring
continuousofmonitoring
of
gen
is
needed
to
understand
the
daily
fluctuadissolved oxygen is needed to understand
tions
and how
it relatesand
to weather
the daily
fluctuations
how it conditions
relates to
and
the quality
of the and
river’sthe
water.
weather
conditions
quality of the
river’s water.
The Mongolian National Standard for Water
The Mongolian
National
StandardMNS
for Water
Quality
of the Aquatic
Environment
4586Quality
of Maximum
the Aquatic
Environment
MNS
98
sets the
Acceptable
Concentra458698
sets
the
Maximum
Acceptable
tion of dissolved oxygen at 4-6 mg/l. AccordConcentration
of dissolved
4-6
ing
to the observed
data, thereoxygen
were noat cases
mg/l. According to the observed data, there
when
the dissolved oxygen concentrations fell
were no cases when the dissolved oxygen
below 4 mg/lin the upper stream of the Kharaa
concentrations fell below 4 mg/l in the upper
River.
dissolved
streamSlightly
of thehigher
Kharaa
River. oxygen
Slightlyconcenhigher
trations,
belowconcentrations,
the upper limitbut
of 6below
mg/l,
dissolvedbut
oxygen
were
observed
in
very
few
cases
downstream
the upper limit of 6 mg/l, were observed in
from
citydownstream
(Figure9). from Darkhan
very Darkhan
few cases
city (Figure 9).
Figure
Figure 9.
9. Dissolved
Dissolved Oxygen
Oxygen concentration
concentration trends
trends of
of the
the Kharaa
Kharaa River
River for
for the
the period
period 1985-2010
1985-2010
32 project.
32
Water
Quality
ofofthe
Water
Quality
theKharaa
KharaaRiver
RiverBasin,
Basin,Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
3.2.3. Biological Oxygen Demand
3.2.3. Biological Oxygen Demand
The biological oxygen demand (BOD) is one of
Thechemical
biological
oxygen demand
(BOD)organic
is one
the
parameters
that measure
of
the
chemical
parameters
that
measure
pollution in rivers and streams.
organic pollution in rivers and streams.
The BOD of the Kharaa River is monitored
The BOD of the Kharaa River is monitored
only at the two sampling points of the Darkhan
only at the two sampling points of the
monitoring station. The observed data for the
Darkhan monitoring station. The observed
period
from the
1985-2010
in most of
data for
period show
fromthat1985-2010
the
cases,
show
thattheinBOD
mostconcentrations
of the cases,were
the below
BOD
the
Maximum Acceptable
Concentration
of 5
concentrations
were below
the Maximum
mg/l (as set in the national water quality stan-
Acceptable Concentration of 5 mg/l (as set
in theMNS
national
water indicating
quality standard
dard
4586:98),
that theMNS
river
4586:98),
indicating
that
the
river
water is clean. However, it should
be water
noted
is clean.
noted that
that
duringHowever,
summer it
theshould
BOD be
concentrations
during summer the BOD concentrations
occasionally exceeded the Maximum Acceptoccasionally exceeded the Maximum
able Concentration in both sampling points
Acceptable Concentration in both sampling
(Figure10).
This 10).
may indicate
thatindicate
organic that
polpoints (Figure
This may
lutants,
urban and
industrial
organic originating
pollutants,from
originating
from
urban
area
of
Darkhan
city,
and
livestock
wastes
enand industrial area of Darkhan city, and
ter
the river
with surface
washing
during
heavy
livestock
wastes
enter the
river with
surface
rainfall
events.
washing
during heavy rainfall events.
Figure 10. Biological oxygen demand concentration trend of the Kharaa River near Darkhan city for the
Figure 10. Biological oxygen demand concentration
trend of the Kharaa River near Darkhan city for the
period 1985-2010
period 1985-2010
As
Figure 10,
10, there
there isisno
noincreasing,
increasing,
As shown
shown in
in Figure
or decreasing,
trends
in
BOD
concentrations
at
decreasing, trends in BOD concentrations
both
sampling
points.points.
However,
the concenat both
sampling
However,
the
concentrations
downstream
from
the
city
are
trations downstream from the city are notice-
ably higher higher
than those
This may
be
noticeably
thanupstream.
those upstream.
This
caused
by
the
discharge
of
Darkhan
Wastewamay be caused by the discharge of Darkhan
ter TreatmentTreatment
Plant effluents.
Wastewater
Plant effluents.
3.2.4. Nutrients
3.2.4. Nutrients
In Mongolia, the level of nutrients in rivers is
generally
influenced
natural
such in
as
In Mongolia,
the bylevel
of factors
nutrients
catchment
geology, rainfall
and river
patrivers is generally
influenced
by flow
natural
terns.
main
source of nutrients
urban
factorsThe
such
as catchment
geology,inrainfall
and river
flow patterns.
The whereas
main source
areas
is municipal
wastewater,
agriof nutrients
in and
urban
areas manure
is municipal
cultural
fertilizers
livestock
are the
wastewater,
whereas agricultural
fertilizers
major
non-point-sources
of nitrogen and
phosand
livestock
manure
are
the
major
phorus in rural areas. Usually nutrients connon-point sources
nitrogen
andwater
phosphorus
centrations
increaseofduring
high
periods
in
rural
areas.
Usually
nutrients
concentrations
due to snowmelting and heavy rainfalls. This
increase during high water periods due to
is mainly due to Mongolia’s pastoral livestock
snowmelting and heavy rainfalls. This is
herding
practices, as herders live along a river
mainly due to Mongolia’s pastoral livestock
bank.
Traditionally,
and streams
are used
herding practices, rivers
as herders
live along
a
as
sources
livestock water.rivers
This leads
to fecal
river
bank.ofTraditionally,
and streams
contamination
and direct
nutrient inputs
the
are used as sources
of livestock
water.toThis
leads to fecal contamination and direct
river water in warm seasons because animal
manure
washed
into river
riverswater
with showmelt
nutrient isinputs
to the
in warm
and
rainfall
runoff (Batimaa,
1998). is washed
seasons
because
animal manure
into rivers with showmelt and rainfall runoff
(Batimaa,mean
1998).
Monthly
concentrations of ammoniumnitrogen (NH4-N) range between 0.09 and 0.38
Monthly
mean
mg/,
while
the concentrations
concentrations of
of ammoniumnitrate-nitronitrogen
(NH4-N)
range
between
0.09
gen (NO3-N) vary from 0.01 to 0.84 mg/l for
the
and
0.38
mg/,
while
the
concentrations
of
period from 1985 to 2010. The concentrations
nitrate-nitro¬gen
(NO3-N)
vary
from
0.01
to
of phosphate (PO4-P) are in the range from 0.01
0.84 mg/l for the period from 1985 to 2010.
to 0.21 mg/l. The phosphate concentrations in
The concentrations of phosphate (PO4-P)
the
Kharaa River were much lower than the niare in the range from 0.01 to 0.21 mg/l. The
trogen
concentrations.
phosphate
concentrations in the Kharaa
River were much lower than the ni¬trogen
concentrations.
33the
The intellectual property rights belong to UNOPS and UNDP, the information should not be used by a third party before consulting with
Pollution
project.
33
UNDP-GEF project
The nutrient concentrations in the Kharaa
The
nutrient concentrations in the Kharaa River
River water usually increased during spring
water
usually increased
during
spring
and sumand summer
time (Table
15) and
sometimes
mer
time
(Table
15)
and
sometimes
exceeded
exceeded the Maximum Acceptable
the
Maximum Acceptable
Concentrations
by
Concentrations
by the order
of 2 to 3 times.
However, the number of cases, in which the
the
order of 2 to 3 times. However, the number
nutrient concentrations exceeded the MAC
of
cases,
in which less
the nutrient
concentrations
levels
represents
than 5 percent
of all
exceeded
the
MAC
levels
represents
less than
samples.
5 percent of all samples.
Table15.
15.Monthly
Monthlymean
meanconcentrations
concentrationsofofammonium
ammoniumofofthe
theKharaa
KharaaRiver
River
Table
Stations
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Nov
Dec
NH4-N, (MAC is 0.5 mg/l)
0.32
0.20 0.14 0.28 0.34 0.11 0.19
-
Zuunkharaa
(upper)
Zuunkharaa
0.38
0.32 0.21
(upper)
Darkhan
0.09 0.10 0.10 0.25 0.39 0.24 0.22
(upper)
Darkhan
0.13 0.09 0.09 0.45 0.29 0.18 0.22
(down)
NO3-N, (MAC is 10 mg/l)
Zuunkharaa
0.35
0.47 0.35
(upper)
Zuunkharaa
0.25
0.28 0.84
(upper)
Darkhan
0.17 0.01 0.15 0.19 0.17 0.25 0.24
(upper)
Darkhan
0.50 0.01 0.56 0.35 0.34 0.49 0.80
(down)
PO4-P, (MAC is 0.1 mg/l)
Zuunkharaa
0.05
0.06 0.03
(upper)
Zuunkharaa
0.07
0.03 0.06
(upper)
Darkhan
0.04 0.04 0.04 0.06 0.03 0.03 0.02
(upper)
Darkhan
0.01 0.04 0.04 0.09 0.07 0.04 0.06
(down)
Aug
Sep
Oct
0.20 0.13 0.26 0.17
-
0.17 0.15 0.12 0.12 0.06
0.20 0.11 0.15 0.18 0.12
0.75 0.15 0.37 0.26
-
0.67 0.56 0.24 0.59
-
0.14 0.10 0.13 0.17 0.24
0.26 0.21 0.34 0.36 0.76
0.04 0.06 0.02 0.03
-
0.04 0.10 0.10 0.04
-
0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03
0.04 0.05 0.05 0.21 0.06
Mostdomestic
domesticand
and
industrial
wastewaters
Most
industrial
wastewaters
have
have
much
higher
concentrations
of
much higher concentrations of ammonia, niammonia,
nitrate, and
thandoes.
the
trate,
and phosphate
thanphosphate
the river water
river water does. The Darkhan Wastewater
The Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant,
Treatment Plant, which is located in the study
which is located in the study area, is a major
area, is a major source of nutrient pollution
source
of nutrient
pollution
in the4.1.1).
KharaaThus,
River
in the Kharaa
River
(see Section
(see
Section
4.1.1).
Thus,
higher
concentrahigher concentrations of NH4-N,NO3-N
tions
of NH4-N,NO
-N in
and
-Pobserved of
in
and PO4-P
observed
thePO
downstream
3
4
the
downstream
of
Darkhan
city
with
respect
Darkhan city with respect to other sampling
to
otherindicate
samplingthat
points
indicate that
municipoints
munici¬pal
wastewater
pal
wastewater
streams
of the
discharges
into discharges
streams of into
the basin
increase
the nutrient
in the Kharaa
basin
increaseconcentrations
the nutrient concentrations
in
River
water.
the Kharaa River water.
Resultsofof
trend
analyses
of nutrient
Results
thethe
trend
analyses
of nutrient
concenconcentrations
since
1990
are
illustrated
in
trations since 1990 are illustrated in Figures11
Figures11
13.inAs
shown
Figure
through
13.through
As shown
Figure
11, in
there
are
11, there are no increasing, or decreasing,
no increasing, or decreasing, trends in NH4trends in NH4-N concentrations in both
N concentrations in both monitoring stations.
monitoring stations. The concentrations of
The
concentrations
of NO3-Nnear
NO3-N
near Zuunkharaa
have Zuunkharaa
decreased
have
decreased
since
1990,
while
from
since 1990, while data from
the data
Darkhan
the
Darkhan station
monitoring
station
trend
monitoring
show
no show
trend no
(Figure
(Figure
12).
Similarly,
PO
-P
concentrations
12). Similarly, PO4-P concentrations
have
4
have
decreased
Zuunkharaa,
while
there
decreased
near near
Zuunkharaa,
while
there
is
isnonotrend
trendnear
nearDarkhan
Darkhancity
city(Figure
(Figure13).
13).
34 project.
34
UNDP-GEF project
Figure 11. Trends in NH4-N concentrations at Zuunkharaa and Darkhan
monitoring stations
Figure 12. Trends in NO3-N concentrations at Zuunkharaa and Darkhan
Figure 12. Trends in NO3-N concentrations at Zuunkharaa and Darkhan
monitoring stations
monitoring stations
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
35
35
UNDP-GEF project
Figure 13.Trends in PO4-P concentrations at
Figure 13. Trends in PO4-P
concentrations
at Zuunkharaa
and
Darkhan monitoring stations
Zuunkharaa
and Darkhan
monitoring
stations
3.2.5.
Metals
3.2.5. Metals
There
observed
data data
on metThere are
arevery
verylimited
limited
observed
on
als,
except
for
iron
(Fe)
and
chromium
(Cr6+)
metals, except for iron (Fe) and chromium
6+
ions Cr
are6+ measured
ions.
total
Fe total
and Cr
ions.
The
Fe and
ions are
(Cr6+)The
at
the downstream
sampling sampling
points ofpoints
both
measured
at the downstream
monitoring
stationsstations
in Zuunkharaa
and Darkof both monitoring
in Zuunkharaa
and
Darkhan.
The
monthly
mean
concentrations
han. The monthly mean concentrations of Fe
vary
between
0.08 and 0.15
concenof Fe
vary between
0.08 mg/l
andwith
0.15
mg/l
trations
increasing
during
rainy
seasons.
The
with concentrations increasing during rainy
6+
Cr
concentrations
range from below
thefrom
derange
seasons.
The Cr6+ concentrations
tection
levelde-tection
to 0.01 mg/land
in
below the
level to also
0.01increase
mg/l and
rainy
seasons (Table
16).
also increase
in rainy
seasons (Table 16).
Table16.Concentrations
16.Concentrationsofofmetals
metalsininthe
theKharaa
KharaaRiverstations
Riverstations
Table
Stations
Zuunkharaa
(upper)
Darkhan
(down)
Zuunkharaa
(down)
Darkhan
(down)
Jan
Feb
Mar
-
-
-
0.09
0.09
0.09
-
-
-
0.00
0.00
0.01
Apr
May
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Fe, (MAC is 0.5 mg/l)
0.08
0.12 0.11
0.18
0.16
0.17
0.12
-
0.15
0.08
0.08
0.16
0.08
0.09
0.11
Cr6+, (MAC is 0.01 mg/l)
0.01
0.01 0.01
0.00
0.00
0.01
0.01
-
0.01
0.01
0.00
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.12
0.01
Jun
0.12
0.00
Jul
0.01
36 project.
36
Water
Quality
ofofthe
Water
Quality
theKharaa
KharaaRiver
RiverBasin,
Basin,Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
In
over
time,
the the
totaltotal
Fe conZuunkharaa,
while decreasing
In terms
termsofoftrends
trends
over
time,
Fe increased
increased
near Zuunkharaa,
while
Cr6+ have near
concentrations
decreased
both at
decreasing
at station
the Darkhan
station (Figure
centrations
have have
decreased
in bothinstations
the Darkhan
(Figure 14).
stations
since
The concentrations
of 14).
since
1990.
The1990.
concentrations
of Cr6+ have
6+
Figure
Trends of
of Fe
Fe and
and Cr
Cr6+
at Zuunkharaa
Zuunkharaa and
and Darkhan
Darkhan stations
stations
Figure 14.
14. Trends
at
As part of the MoMo project, measurements
As part of the MoMo project, measurements of
of other metals and a number of heavy
other
metals
number (As),
of heavy
metals,
suchand
as a arsenic
leadmetals,
(Pb),
such
as
arsenic
(As),
lead
(Pb),
cadmium
(Cd),
cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu),
chromium
copper (Cu),
(Ni), mernickel (Ni),(Cr),
mer¬cury
(Hg), nickel
zinc (Zn),
iron
cury (Hg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and manganese
(Fe) and manganese (Mn), were conducted
(Mn), were conducted on the Kharaa River at
on the Kharaa River at the Darkhan
the
Darkhanstation
monitoring
station
and
outlet
monitoring
and the
outlet
of the
the basin
of
the
basin
near
Burentolgoi
during
the
period
near Burentolgoi during the period from
from
September
to 2008
(Table
September
20062006
to 2008
(Table
17). 17).
Table 17. Heavy metalsconcentrations in the Kharaa River, mg/l
Table 17.Heavy metalsconcentrations in the Kharaa River, mg/l
Sampling site
As
Pb Cd
Cr
Cu
Ni
Hg
Zn
Fe
Mn
Kharaa-Darkhan 0.0021 n.d. n.d. 0.0025 0.0127 0.004 n.d. 0.013 0.95 0.091
Kharaa0.0025 n.d. n.d. 0.009 0.013 0.011 n.d. 0.026 1.645 0.158
Burentolgoi
(river basin
outlet)
The results of these measurements (MoMo,
The results
of these
measurements
2009)
indicate
that the
heavy metal (MoMo,
concen2009)
indicate
that
the heavy
trations show increased levels,
althoughmetal
most
concentrations
show
increased
levels,
of them being lower or near to the allowed
although most of them being lower or near
maximum concentration. Concentrations of
to the allowed maximum concentration.
dissolved
heavy metals in the upper and midConcentrations of dissolved heavy metals
dle
reaches
below
detection
limit
in the
upperare
andoften
middle
reaches
are often
(e.g.
cadmium
and
lead).
Natural
background
below detection limit (e.g. cadmium and
concentrations in suspended solids are low.
lead). Natural ofbackground
concentrations
Concentrations
arsenic, primarily
originating
in
suspended
solids
are
low.
Concentrations
from human activities, increase downstream
of arsenic,
primarily originating
from human
and
show increasing
values in Darkhan.
Eleactivities, increase downstream and show
vated concentrations of heavy metals were deincreasing values in Darkhan. Elevated
tected
especially in the Boroo River and downconcentrations of heavy metals were
stream
of the
city of Darkhan.
detected
especially
in the Boroo River and
downstream of the city of Darkhan.
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
37
37
UNDP-GEF project
3.2.6. Suspended solids
3.2.6. Suspended solids
The concentration of total suspended solids
The
of total
suspended
solids
(TSS)concentration
is important for
ecological
and water
(TSS)
is
important
for
ecological
and
water
quality. Suspended solids in most freshwater
quality.
solidswatershed
in most freshwater
systems Suspended
originate from
sources,
systems
originate
from watershed
sources, polpollutant
point sources
and sediments.
lutant point sources and sediments.
In Mongolia, total suspended solids appear to
beMongolia,
more strongly
to surface
depositsto
In
total related
suspended
solids appear
(such
as
river
bank
erosion)
than
to
use
be more strongly related to surfaceland
deposits
and
to
increase
from
headwater
down
along
(such as river bank erosion) than to land use
a river
(Batimaa,
1998).
and
to increase
from
headwater down along a
river (Batimaa, 1998).
The results of suspended solids monitoring
The
of suspended
solids monitoring
data results
at Zuunkharaa
and Darkhan
stations
data
at
Zuunkharaa
and
Darkhan
stations
show a similar characteristic,
as show
the
aconcentrations
similar characteristic,as
the
concentrations
increase during snowmelt
increase
during
snowmelt
and rainfall
runoff.
and rainfall
runoff.
In general,
suspended
In
general,
suspended-solids
concentrations
solids
concentrations
were highest
in the
spring-summer
andspring-summer
lowest in the
were
highest in the
and winter
lowest
(Table
18). The
increase
during
the springin
the winter
(Table
18). The
increase
during
summer
can be attributed
to higher
the
spring-summer
can be attributed
to flows,
higher
surfacesurface
washing
and the
associated
increase
flows,
washing
and
the associated
inin
runoff
and
transport.
The
trend
of
crease in runoff and transport. The trend of sussuspended
solids
is
shown
in
Figure
15.
pended solids is shown in Figure 15.
Table18.Monthly
18. Monthlymean
meanconcentrations
concentrations
suspended
solids
Kharaa
River
Table
ofofsuspended
solids
inin
thethe
Kharaa
River
Stations
Zuunkharaa
(upper)
Zuunkharaa
(down)
Darkhan
(upper)
Darkhan
(down)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
-
-
-
39.4
-
-
-
31.7
20.6
25.0
24.9
37.0
25.4
25.0
25.0
62.2
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
-
28.4
31.4
37.7
28.1
14.5
12.5
-
75.6
25.8
54.9
11.7
18.4
18.1
-
62.9
65.5
81.7
51.5
64.6
25.6
24.9
28.1
101.4
60.7
82.3
60.8
74.9
32.1
28.9
29.4
-
Figure15.
15.Trends
Figure
Trends of
of suspended
suspended solidsat
solidsatZuunkharaa
Zuunkharaa and
andDarkhan
Darkhan stations
stations
38 project.
38
UNDP-GEF project
3.3. The
water
quality
3.3.
TheKharaa
KharaaRiver
River
water
quality
The Kharaa River water quality was assessed
The
RiverQuality
water quality
assessed
usingKharaa
the Water
Index, was
described
in
using
the
Water
Quality
Index,
described
in
Section 1.3.3. In order to analyze trends in
Section
1.3.3. all
In observed
order to data
analyze
trends
in
water quality,
for the
period
water
quality,
all
observed
data
for
the
period
from 1991to 2011 were used, and
results
from
1991to 2011
were 16.
used, and the results
are presented
in Figure
are presented in Figure 16.
At the upper reaches of the river near the
Zuunkharaa
thenear
quality
At
the uppermonitoring
reaches of station,
the river
the
of
the
Kharaa
River
water
can
be
classified
Zuunkharaa monitoring station, the quality as
of
the Kharaa River water can be classified as ‘very
‘very clean’ to ‘clean’, except for few cases.
clean’
to ‘clean’,
few cases.in
The
river
The river
water except
qualityfordecreased
lower
water
quality
decreased
in
lower
reaches
of
the
reaches of the river near the city of Darkhan.
river
of Darkhan.
than 95
Morenear
thanthe95city
percent
of theMore
all samples
percent
of
the
all
samples
show
that
the rivshow that the river’s water quality can
be
er’s
water quality
can be
classified
as ‘clean’.
classified
as ‘clean’.
A slight
decline
in theA
river’sdecline
water quality
to thewater
‘slightly-polluted’
slight
in the river’s
quality to the
level is observed level
during
highwaterduring
periods
of
‘slightly-polluted’
is observed
highsnowmelt
in
April
to
May,
as
well
as
in
lowwater periods of snowmelt in April to May, as
water
in June.
well
asperiods
in low-water
periods in June.
Figure
Water quality
quality of
of the
the Kharaa
Kharaa river
river at
at Zuunkharaa
Zuunkharaa and
and Darkhan
Darkhan stations
stations
Figure 16.
16. Water
3.4. Aquatic ecology
3.4.
Aquatic ecology
The potential impacts of human activities on
the ecological functions and services of
the potential
Kharaa impacts
River ecosystems
and their
The
of human activities
on
interactions
have
not
been
fully
studied,
or
the ecological functions and services of the
understood. According to the studies MoMo
Kharaa River ecosystems and their interactions
project (2009), monitoring programs for the
have not been fully studied, or understood. Ac-
ecological status of rivers and the trends
of relevant impact factors are rare and not
locally adapted in the basin.
cording to the studies MoMo project (2009),
monitoring programs for the ecological status of
rivers and the trends of relevant impact factors
are rare and not locally adapted in the basin.
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
39
39
UNDP-GEF project
As
are emerging
as promisAsmacroinvertebrates
macroinvertebrates
are emerging
as
promising
ecological
of water
ing
ecological
indicators indicators
of water quality
and
quality andhealth.
ecological
Theof
evaluation
ecological
The health.
evaluation
the ecoof the status
ecological
of the
River
logical
of thestatus
Kharaa
RiverKharaa
is based
on
is based
on aquatic macroinvertebrate
aquatic
macroinvertebrate
communities data
communities
datasites
monitored
at twoRiver
sitesBain
monitored
at two
in the Kharaa
the Kharaa River Basin for the period from
2005 to 2010.
sin
the period
fromindividuals
2005 to 2010.
Thefor
number
of total
of Taxa, and
Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera
(EPT)number
individuals
found
in the Kharaa
The
of total
individuals
of Taxa,River
and
are
shown
in
Figure
17.
Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT)
individuals found in the Kharaa River are shown
in Figure 17.
Figure
Number of
of total
total individuals
individuals of
of Taxa
Taxaand
andEPT
EPT
Figure17.
17.Number
The analysis of the macroinvertebrate
communities
at two
of the Kharaa River
The
analysis of
the sites
macroinvertebrate
comBasin
indicates
good
ecological
conditions
munities at two sites of the Kharaa River Baof the
river. good
The number
of conditions
total individuals
sin
indicates
ecological
of the
of
Taxa
is
almost
three
times
river. The number of total individualshigher
of Taxaatis
the Darkhan monitoring site than at the
almost three times higher at the Darkhan moniBaruunkharaa site. However, the number of
toring site than at the Baruunkharaa site. Howhighly pollution-sensitive individuals of EPT
ever,
the number
of highly pollution-sensitive
is almost
the same.
individuals of EPT is almost the same.
The Kharaa River water quality has been also
The
River
water
been
beenKharaa
assessed
using
thequality
Biotichas
Index
at also
the
been
assessed using
Index at
the
two monitoring
sites. the
The Biotic
water quality
of the
two
monitoring
sites. The
water quality
of the
the
Kharaa
River meets
the ‘clean’
level of
water River
quality
classification
at both
Kharaa
meets
the ‘clean’ level
of thesites
wain quality
Baruunkharaa
and atDarkhan,
ter
classification
both sitesalthough
in Baruthe waterand
quality
slightly
decreases
near
unkharaa
Darkhan,
although
the water
Darkhan
(Figure
18).
However,
the
water
quality slightly decreases near Darkhan (Figure
quality
of the Kharaa
River
at the
near
18).
However,
the water
quality
of reach
the Kharaa
River at the reach near Baruunkharaa has de-
Baruunkharaa has decreased since 2005 and
has reached
the same
levels
as those
near
creased
since 2005
and has
reached
the same
the
city
of
Darkhan
in
2009
and
2010.
This
levels as those near the city of Darkhan in 2009
shows
that This
the quality
of the
water
at
and
2010.
shows that
theriver’s
quality
of the
the
Baruunkharaa
monitoring
site
has
been
river’s water at the Baruunkharaa monitoring
continuously declining for the last six years,
site has been continuously declining for the last
while it stays stable near the city of Darkhan.
six years, while it stays stable near the city of
Darkhan.
In terms of the annual distribution, water
quality is lower during spring and autumn
In
terms
the annual
distribution,
and
getsof
better
in summer
(Figure water
19). quality is lower during spring and autumn and gets
better
in summer
19).are similar to that
The results
of the(Figure
two sites
results of integrated ecological assessment
that based
produced
The
results on
of benthic
the twoinvertebrates
sites are similar
to that
by
MoMo
project
by
mean
value
(Figure
results of integrated ecological assessment 20).
that
As there
no data
between these
sites by
it
based
on was
benthic
invertebrates
produced
was
not
possible
to
compare
results.
MoMo project by mean value (Figure 20). As
there was no data between these sites it was
not possible to compare results.
40 project.
40
Water
Quality
of Kharaa
the Kharaa
Basin,
Mongolia:
Water
Quality
of the
RiverRiver
Basin,
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
Figure
Kharaa
river
water
quality
asFigure
18. 18.The
The Kharaa
river
water
quality
assessed
sessed
by
Biotic
index
by Biotic index
Figure
19. Annual
Figure 19.
Annual variation
variation of
of the
the Kharaa
Kharaa river
river
water
quality
assessed
by
Biotic
index
water quality assessed by Biotic index
Due to lack of data, the assessment of the
ecological water quality of the Kharaa River
Due
to lack
of data,
the available
assessment
of the
is mainly
based
on the
data.
As
ecological
quality of
of the
the MoMo
Kharaa project
River is
part of thewater
first-phase
(MoMo,
2009),
the available
ecology data.
of theAsKharaa
mainly
based
on the
part of
River
was
assessed
based
on
monitoring
of
the first-phase of the MoMo project (MoMo,
fish communities
macroinvertebrate
2009),
the ecology of and
the Kharaa
River was ascommunities.
The
monitoring
was
sessed based on monitoring of fishconducted
communiat 10
between 2006communities.
and 2009. The
ties
andsites
macroinvertebrate
The
results
of
this
MoMo
project
monitoring
are
monitoring was conducted at10 sites between
summarized below.
2006 and 2009. The results of this MoMo project monitoring are summarized below.
The analyses of fish community and of the
chemical and physic-chemical components
The
of the
fish results
community
of the
wereanalyses
based on
of all and
conducted
chemical
andwhere
physic-chemical
expeditions,
an overall components
amount of
were
based
on
the
results
of alland
conducted
ex54,789 fish were caught
released.
peditions,
an of
overall
amount of 54,789
Since the where
analysis
the macroinvertebrate
fish
were is
caught
released.
Since the analysamples
muchand
more
time consuming
due
to the
(un)availability
of laboratory
sis
of the
macroinvertebrate
samplesfacilities,
is much
the results
of only two
expeditions
could be
more
time consuming
due
to the (un)availabiliused
to assess the
ecological
status.of
However,
ty
of laboratory
facilities,
the results
only two
two
different
seasons
were
included
andecothe
expeditions could be used to assess the
assessment
was
based
on
the
analysis
of
logical status. However, two different seasons
more included
than 106,000
individuals.
for
were
and the
assessmentCriteria
was based
the selection of sampling points were: 1)
on the analysis of more than 106,000 individuto include upper, middle and downstream
als.
Criteria for the selection of sampling points
reaches of the basin; 2) to study the influences
were:
1) tosettlements
include upper,
middle
andsuch
downof larger
in the
basin
as
stream
reaches
of
the
basin;
2)
to
study
the
inZuunkharaa, Baruunkharaa and Darkhan; and
fluences
of larger
settlements
the basin such
3) to study
a typical
range ofinanthropogenic
as
Zuunkharaa,
Baruunkharaa
and
impacts like land use and mining. Darkhan;
and 3) to study a typical range of anthropogenic
impacts
like land
The
assessment
of use
the and
fish mining.
communities has
shown (MoMo, 2009) a ‘good’ or ‘very good’
ecological
statusofatthe
most
the monitoring
The
assessment
fishofcommunities
has
sites. A ‘moderate’ status, detected at two
sites in the watershed, is caused by the
shown
(MoMo,
2009) a species,
‘good’ orshowing
‘very good’
absence
of ubiquistic
no
ecological
status
at most
of the monitoring
clear deficits
in the
ecological
integrity ofsites.
the
fauna. Most
the fishatspecies
known
Afish
‘moderate’
status,ofdetected
two sites
in the
to occur inisthe
Kharaa
Basin (Dulmaa,
watershed,
caused
by River
the absence
of ubiqu1999)
were detected;
some species
istic
species,
showing however,
no clear deficits
in the
seem
to
be
very
rare
such
as
taimen
(Hucho
ecological integrity of the fish fauna. Most of
taimen),
lenok known
(Brachymystax
and
the
fish species
to occur inlenok)
the Kharaa
arctic Basin
grayling
(Thymallus
arcticus).
Even in
River
(Dulmaa,
1999)
were detected;
biocoenotic regions, where they find optimal
however, some species seem to be very rare
conditions, the average sum of adult fish of
such as taimen (Hucho taimen), lenok (Brachythese species is very low, ranging from 0.5
mystax
lenok) andcaught
arctic during
graylingone
(Thymallus
to 7.7 individuals
hour of
arcticus).
Even
in
biocoenotic
regions,
where
sampling.
they find optimal conditions, the average sum
of
adultanalysis
fish of these
is very low, ranging
The
of species
the macroinvertebrate
from
0.5 to 7.7along
individuals
caughtRiver
duringbasin
one
communities
the Kharaa
hour
of sampling.
has also
indicated good ecological conditions
at most of the monitoring sites. However, at
many
sites of
main channel, i.e.commuin the
The
analysis
of the macroinvertebrate
loweralong
part the
of Kharaa
the middle
regionhasand
nities
River basin
alsothe
intransition
to
the
down
region,
and
also
in
dicated good ecological conditions at most its
of
tributaries,
deficits
benthicatcommunities
the
monitoring
sites. in
However,
many sites of
could
bechannel,
shown. i.e.
These
arelower
mainly
the
main
in the
partcaused
of the
by the absence of the EPT individuals
middle region and the transition to the down
(Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) in
region, and also in its tributaries, deficits in
the community composition, the absence
benthic
communities
be shown.
These
of so-called
indicatorcould
organisms,
especially
are
mainly
caused
by
the
absence
of
the
EPT
of the order Plecoptera, and an abnormal
individuals
Triincreased (Ephemeroptera,
percentage of Plecoptera,
fine sediment
choptera)
in
the
community
composition,
the
colonisers.
absence of so-called indicator organisms, especially of the order Plecoptera, and an abnormal
increased percentage of fine sediment colonisers.
Pollution
threats
andand
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
hotspots
assessment
project.
41
41
UNDP-GEF project
●blue: very good
●green: good
●yellow: moderate
●orange: poor
●red: bad
●gray: no data
Figure 20. Ecological assessment of the Kharaa River Basin (MoMo, 2009)
Figure 20. Ecological assessment of the Kharaa River Basin (MoMo, 2009)
The analysis of the water quality conditions
based on benthic invertebrates (MoMo, 2009)
showed ecological deficits in the Kharaa
The
theofwater
quality conditions
Riveranalysis
near theofcity
Baruunkharaa
and city
based
on benthic
invertebrates
(MoMo,
of Khongor,
as sensitive
groups
(EPT)2009)
had
low numbers
in these
areas.
20 shows
showed
ecological
deficits
in Figure
the Kharaa
River
the integrated
ecological assessment
near
the city of Baruunkharaa
and city of based
Khonon
a
five
class
category
from
‘very
good’
to
gor, as sensitive groups (EPT) had low numbers
‘bad‘.
As
shown
in
the
figure,
the
ecological
in these areas. Figure 20 shows the integrated
water quality
ranked based
‘very good’
and
‘good’
ecological
assessment
on a five
class
catby
mean
value
in
all
parts
of
the
river.
By the
egory from ‘very good’ to ‘bad. As shown
in
worst values, the upper reaches of the river
the figure, the ecological water quality ranked
ranked ‘clean’, whereas in the river section
‘very good’ and ‘good’ by mean value in all
between Baruunkharaa and Darkhan ranked
parts
the river. By
worst
the upfrom of‘moderate’
to the
‘bad’
andvalues,
improved
to
per
reaches
of
the
river
ranked
‘clean’,
whereas
‘clean’ at the river outlet.
in the river section between Baruunkharaa and
Darkhan
ranked
from ‘moderate’
‘bad’
and
The above
assessment
shows thattothe
water
improved
to
‘clean’
at
the
river
outlet.
quality of the Kharaa River Basin decreases
occasionally to ‘moderately-polluted’ and
The above assessment shows that the water
quality of the Kharaa River Basin decreases
‘very-polluted’ near urban settlements such
as Darkhan, Baruunkharaa and Zuunkharaa.
This indicates that the Kharaa River water
occasionally
to vulnerable
‘moderately-polluted’
quality is highly
to pollution,and
in
‘very-polluted’
near close
urbantosettlements
such of
as
particular in areas
point sources
Darkhan,
Baruunkharaa
and
Zuunkharaa.
This
pollution, such as urban areas, and in source
areas of diffuse
suchwater
as agriculture
indicates
that thepollution,
Kharaa River
quality is
and
mining.
highly vulnerable to pollution, in particular in
areas close to point sources of pollution, such
Onurban
the areas,
other and
hand,
the self-purification
as
in source
areas of diffuse
rate
in
the
Mongolian
rivers
is usually
pollution, such as agriculture and
mining.high,
with their self-purification distances ranging
between 6 and 18 kilometers. The selfOn the other hand, the self-purification rate in
purification distance of the Kharaa River is
the
Mongolian
rivers is usually high, with their
estimated
10 kilometers.
self-purification distances ranging between 6
and
kilometers.
Thewater
self-purification
disThat 18
explains
why the
quality of the
tance
the Kharaa
Rivertois ‘clean’
estimated
10 kiKharaaof River
improved
status
at
lometers.
That
explains
why
the
water
quality
its outlet, having no negative impact on the
of
the Kharaa
Orkhon
River River
waterimproved
quality. to ‘clean’ status
at its outlet, having no negative impact on the
Orkhon River water quality.
42 project.
42
Water
Quality
of Kharaa
the Kharaa
Basin,
Mongolia:
Water
Quality
of the
RiverRiver
Basin,
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
3.5. Groundwater
in in
thethe
Kharaa
RiverRiver
BasinBasin
3.5.
Groundwaterquality
quality
Kharaa
The groundwater quality is the most important
The
groundwater
quality
is the as
most
important
for the
drinking water
quality,
groundwater
for
the
drinking
water
quality,
as
groundwater
is the main drinking water source in the
isKharaa
the main
drinking
water
source inthere
the Kharaa
River
Basin.
Presently,
is no
River
Basin. Presently,
is no groundwater
groundwater
quality there
monitoring
network in
quality
monitoring
network
in the basin.
the basin.
Only a few
groundwater
wellsOnly
are
aused
few groundwater
used for drinking
for drinking wells
waterare
extraction.
Hence,
groundwater
quality
datagroundwater
is very scares.
water
extraction.
Hence,
quality
data is very scares.
The only available data on groundwater
The
only was
available
data on
groundwater
quality
quality
a single
chemical
analysis
of
was
a
single
chemical
analysis
of
groundwater
groundwater at various locations in the Kharaa
at
various
locations
in theinKharaa
River Basin,
River
Basin,
reported
an unpublished
reported
an unpublished
technical report
on
technicalinreport
on “The groundwater
quality
“The
groundwater
quality
overview”
(Jadamoverview”
(Jadambaa,
2000).
The results
of
baa,2000).The
of thisinanalysis
are prethis analysis areresults
presented
Table 19.
sented in Table 19.
Table 19. Groundwater quality parameters
Table 19. Groundwater quality parameters
Lon
Lat
TDS
Ca
Mg
NaK
HCO3
SO4
CI
mg/l
Hardness
mg-eqv/l
pH
NH4
NO2
NO3
Fe
mg/l
106.21
48.92
691
40.6
13.4
151.
262.3
143
81
3.15
8.0
0.00
0.00
10.0
0.00
105.92
49.49
611
40.5
14.7
110
366.0
45.0
35
3.84
7.2
0.00
0.03
8.0
0.00
105.98
49.43
527
40.1
25.5
80
231.8
114
36
4.10
7.5
0.10
0.50
0.0
0.20
106.75
48.64
504
40.1
11.5
77.9
335.6
34.5
4.3
2.95
7.0
0.10
0.00
0.0
0.00
105.93
49.3
413
32.1
15.8
65.8
213.5
18.1
68
2.90
7.2
0.20
0.00
0.0
0.20
106.63
48.85
351
22.1
12.2
57
213.5
25.0
21
2.10
6.7
0.30
0.01
0.0
0.30
106.27
48.82
509
58.1
22.5
56.3
286.7
62.5
23
4.75
7.9
0.20
0.00
1.0
0.00
105.92
49.5
478
44.1
25.5
55.6
305.1
15.6
32
4.30
7.0
0.00
0.00
0.0
0.00
106.48
48.85
417
52.1
17.0
44.6
244.0
45.2
14
4.00
7.9
0.30
0.01
1.0
0.00
106.08
48.91
426
54.1
15.7
38.9
237.9
65.8
14
4.00
7.8
0.20
0.00
2.0
0.00
106.78
48.82
330
43.1
12.2
28.1
189.1
47.1
10
3.15
7.1
0.10
0.00
0.0
0.30
106.48
48.81
291
36.1
14.6
26.2
164.7
34.6
15
3.00
7.9
0.10
0.00
1.0
0.00
106.52
48.8
243
32.1
10.9
16.1
140.3
34.6
8.9
2.50
7.5
0.40
0.00
1.0
0.00
106.26
49.49
233
27.1
13.4
15.6
143.4
25.0
8.9
2.45
7.0
0.00
0.00
0.7
0.00
106.76
48.64
340
50.1
26.1
4.65
213.6
34.5
11
4.65
7.0
0.40
0.05
2.0
0.00
Data source: Jadambaa, 2000
The chemical composition of groundwater is
almost the same as in the Kharaa River water.
The
composition
of groundwater
is
The chemical
mineralization
of groundwater
is in the
almost
the
same
as
in
the
Kharaa
River
water.
range between 233 and 691 mg/l. Similar to
The
of groundwater
is in and
the
the mineralization
Kharaa River water,
the calcium
range
betweenare
233 the
and dominant
691 mg/l. Similar
to
bicarbonate
ions in
groundwater
at allwater,
sampled
order
of
the
Kharaa River
the points.
calciumThe
and
bicarbonate are the dominant ions in groundwater
at all sampled points. The order of abundance
of cations is Ca2+>Na++K+>Mg2+, and the
abundance of cations is Ca2+>Na++K+>Mg2+,
and the order of abundance of anions is
22order
abundance
->SO
>Cl-. of anions is HCO3->SO4
HCO3of
4
>Cl
.
According
to nitrogen (N) concentrations, the
nutrient level in groundwater in aquifers in
According
nitrogen
concentrations,
the
the KharaatoRiver
Basin(N)
is very
low, indicating
that groundwater
is clean. in aquifers in the
nutrient
level in groundwater
Kharaa River Basin is very low, indicating that
groundwater is clean.
Pollution
threats
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
andand
hotspots
assessment
project.
43
43
UNDP-GEF project
44
project.
UNDP-GEF project
4.Assessment
Assessment of
of
4.
pollutionhotspots
hotspots
pollution
inthe
theKharaa
Kharaa
in
River
RiverBasin
Basin
Pollution
project.
©Batimaa P., 2013
UNDP-GEF project
An assessment of water pollution hotspots
in the Kharaa River Basin was conducted as
part of the water quality assessment of the
basin. This included the identification of
potential pollution hotspots and their effects
on the water quality of the basin, as well as
the identification of possible threats to the
environment and human health.
In general, a water pollution hotspot is an
area where the concentration of a pollutant
exceeds the standards. Pollution hotspots are
characterized by both a high concentration,
or loading, of a pollutant and a high risk that
the pollutant enters adjacent water bodies
such as rivers, lakes, groundwater aquifers,
causing water pollution. The pollution
hotspots assessment is useful in identifying
areas with most serious pollution risks,
thus allowing the decision-makers to target
compliance efforts on the problem sites.
The water quality assessment of the Kharaa
River Basin, described in the previous
section, shows that there are no potentiallyserious water quality problems in the basin,
except for the localized and seasonal water
quality degradation due to the impacts
of municipal wastewater effluents on the
river water quality downstream of urban
areas and a potential risk of bacteriological
contamination by livestock waste. However,
the basin is becoming more sensitive to
pollution, as there are growing pressures from
population growth, urbanization, industrial
development, and increasing farming and
tourism activities that are likely to generate
more pollution.
The assessment focused on both point and
diffuse pollution sources in the Kharaa River
Basin in order to have a comprehensive
overview of existing, or potential, pollution
hotspots.
4.1. Pollution from urban areas
The Kharaa River Basin includes several
large and small urban areas. The largest
urban area in the basin is the industrial
city of Darkhan—the second biggest city
of Mongolia with a population of about
75,000. Moreover, a total of 24 soums (an
administrative unit equivalent to small
towns) are located in the basin. The basin is
shared by three provinces: Selenge, Tuv and
Darkhan Uul aimags (Figure 21).
The entire population of the Kharaa River Basin
is about 133,000, which is approximately 5
percent of the total population of Mongolia.
The basin has the highest population density
in Mongolia, which is about 9.2 persons
per sq.km. The Darkhan city has the highest
population density of about 300 people per
sq.km.
In addition to being an industrial city,
Darkhan is the second largest educational
center in Mongolia too, with 10 universities
and higher education institutions, 25
secondary schools and 14 pre-school
establishments and kindergartens. In
addition, several research institutions are
located in the city of Darkhan, including: the
Institute of Management and Development;
Regional Business Development Center; and
Horticultural and Agricultural Research and
Training Institute. Every year, hundreds of
students come Darkhan from other parts of
Mongolia to study.
4.1.1. Municipal wastewater
Municipal wastewater and runoff from urban
areas are, in general, the largest point source
of water quality impairments.
The discharge of inadequately-treated
municipal wastewater to surface water
resources is a major water quality concern in
the Kharaa River Basin.
46 project.
UNDP-GEF project
Figure
Basin
Figure21.
21. The
The administrative
administrative units
units in
in the
the Kharaa
KharaaRiver
river basin
There are five Wastewater Treatment Plants
(WWTPs)
theWastewater
Kharaa River
Basin, two
of
There are in
five
Treatment
Plants
(WWTPs)
in
the
Kharaa
River
Basin,
two
of
which discharge their treated wastewater diwhichinto
discharge
theirRiver.
treated
rectly
the Kharaa
The wastewater
other three
directly
into
the
Kharaa
River.
The other
plants have no direct outlet to the Kharaa
River.
three
plants
have
no
direct
outlet
the
Most soums (small towns) do not have to
wasteKharaatreatment
River. Most
soums
towns) do
water
facilities
and(small
infrastructure.
A
not
have
wastewater
treatment
facilities
majority of households in soums use simpleand
trainfrastructure. A majority of households in
ditional pit latrines in their compounds.
soums use simple traditional pit latrines in
their compounds.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Darkhan
treats bothTreatment
municipal Plant
and industrial
The city
Wastewater
in the
wastewater
and
discharges
its
effluents
directly
Darkhan city treats both municipal
and
to
the Kharaa
River. Theand
Wastewater
Treatindustrial
wastewater
discharges
its
ment
Plant
in
Salkhit
(a
railway
station
town)
effluents directly to the Kharaa River. The
has
mechanical
and primary
treatWastewater
Treatment
Plantbiological
in Salkhit
(a
railway station town) has mechanical and
ment processes and discharges its effluents directly
to the
Kharaa River,
too. processes and
primary
biological
treatment
discharges its effluents directly to the Kharaa
River,WWTPs
too.
The
in Zuunkharaa, Baruunkharaa
and Khongor soums, which are located in the
The WWTPs
in Zuunkharaa,
Baruunkharaa
upstream
reaches
of the basin, are
smaller and
and
Khongor
soums,
which
are
located
the
have no direct outlet to the Kharaa River. in
These
upstream
reaches
of
the
basin,
are
smaller
WWTPs have mechanical and primary biologiand have no direct outlet to the Kharaa River.
cal treatment processes. The treated wastewaThese WWTPs have mechanical and primary
ter
of thesetreatment
plants is discharged
infiltration
biological
processes. to
The
treated
ponds
and the
is disposed
of in sludge
wastewater
of sludge
these plants
is discharged
to
fields
close
to
the
Kharaa
River.
Consequently,
infiltration ponds and the sludge is disposed
there
is a potential
risk oftopollution
of groundof in sludge
fields close
the Kharaa
River.
water,
soil and river
water
leakage from
Consequently,
there
is abypotential
risk the
of
sludge
ponds.
pollution of groundwater, soil and river
water by leakage from the sludge ponds.
Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant
Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant
The Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant is
The Darkhan
Wastewater
Treatment
Plant
biggest
in the Kharaa
River Basin
(Figure
22).isIt
biggest
in the Kharaa
River Basin (Figure 22).
was
commissioned
in1968.
It was commissioned in 1968.
The plant treats both municipal and industrial
The plant treats
both
municipal biological
and industrial
wastewater.
It has
mechanical,
and
wastewater. It has mechanical, biological
chemical treatment processes. Some biological
and chemical
treatment
Some
processes
are affected
by theprocesses.
cold weather
and
biological
by the cold
slow
down,processes
or cease,are
at affected
lower temperatures
weather
and
slow
down,
or
cease,
lower
during winter. Due to the cold climate,atthe
poltemperatures
during
winter.
Due
to
the
cold
ishing ponds cannot be used in winter time.
climate, the polishing ponds cannot be used
in winter time.
Pollution
project.
47
47
UNDP-GEF project
The
has no
no denitrification
denitrification system.
system. Raw
Raw
The plant
plant has
wastewater
entering
the
plant
is
initially
passes
wastewater entering the plant is initially
through
screens andscreens
then treated
passes mechanical
through mechanical
and
then treatedin biologically
primary sediand
biologically
primary and insecondary
secondarytanks.
sedimentation
tanks.
The plant
mentation
The plant has
a chlorination
has
a
chlorination
unit
for
the
disinfection
unit for the disinfection of treated wastewater
of treated
wastewater
before
itsHowever,
dischargethe
to
before
its discharge
to the
river.
the river. However,
chlorination
chlorination
system is the
temporarily
out ofsystem
order.
is
temporarily
out
of
order.
The Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant has
a laboratory for the chemical analyses of wasteThe Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant
water.
has a laboratory for the chemical analyses of
wastewater. The total capacity of the Darkhan
The
total capacity
of the Plant
Darkhan
Wastewater
Wastewater
Treatment
is 50,000
m3/
Treatment
Plant
is
50,000
m3/day.
However,
day. However, the plant is operating
at one
the
plant
at one third
of its design
third
of isitsoperating
design capacity,
treating
from
capacity,
treating
from
15,000
to
17,000
m3/
15,000 to 17,000 m3/ day wastewater. Only
day
wastewater.
Only
wastewater
from apartwastewater
from
apartment
buildings
and
administrative
and administrative
services areas,and
which
are
ment
buildings and
services
connected
theconnected
sewage system
of the city,
areas,
whichtoare
to the sewage
sysis treated
theisplant.
tem
of the at
city,
treated at the plant.
The Darkhan
Darkhan Thermal
Thermal Power
Power Plant
The
Plant (DTPP)
(DTPP) isis
the
largest
user
of
water
in
the
city.
the largest user of water in the city. ItIthas
hasitsits
own wastewater tratment facility. The
own wastewater treatment facility. The wastewastewater of the plant is discharged into
water of the plant is discharged into the Kharaa
the Kharaa River through 12 oxidation
River
oxidationsystem.
ponds and
a biopondsthrough
and a 12
bioaquifer
However,
aquifer
system.
However,
the
DTPP
wastewathe DTPP wastewater treatment facility
ter
treatment
facilitytechnical
often encounters
technical
often
encounters
problems,
and
problems,
untreated
industrial
wastewater
untreated and
industrial
wastewater
is discharged
isinto
discharged
into thethe
area
outside the plant.
the area outside
plant.
Figure
23.23.
Wastewater
treatment
raterate
of the
DarkFigure
Wastewater
treatment
of the
han WWTP
Darkhan WWTP
This
largely
residential,
and close
the
This area
areais is
largely
residential,
and to
close
‘ger’
district
(a
district
of
traditional
Mongolian
to the ‘ger’ district (a district of traditional
housing
andhousing
small houses).
Mongolian
and small houses).
The ‘ger’ districts
The
districts and
andsmall
smallvillages
villagesare
arenot
not
connected
to
the
sewage
system
of
the
city.
connected
the sewage system of the city.
The wastewater
The
wastewater from
from these
these areas
areasisisdischarged
discharged
into
simple
traditional
pit
latrines
or soak
into simple traditional pit latrines or soak
pits.
pits.
Many
of
these
latrines
are
inadequately
Many of these latrines are inadequately mainmaintained, and overflowing latrines are
tained,
and overflowing latrines are often a maoften a major source of pollution in ‘ger’
jor source of pollution in ‘ger’ areas of the city,
areas of the city, especially during heavy
especially
rainfalls. during heavy rainfalls.
The
Darkhan Water
Water Supply
Supply and
andWastewater
Wastewater
The Darkhan
Company
USAG) is
is responsible
responsible for
for
Company (Darkhan
(Darkhan USAG)
water
supply
and
wastewater
collection
treatwater supply and wastewater collection
ment
in theincity.
treatment
the city.
In order to evaluate
In
evaluate the efficiency
efficiency and rate
rate of
of
wastewater treatment
treatment
of Darkhan
the Darkhan
wastewater
of the
WasteWastewater
Treatment
Plant,
datachemical
of the
water
Treatment
Plant, data
of the
chemicalofanalyses
treated wastewater
at
analyses
treated ofwastewater
at the plant
the
plant
outlet
have
been
analyzed
for
the
outlet have been analyzed for the period from
period from 2002 to 2012. The wastewater
2002
to 2012. The wastewater treatment rate
treatment rate of the plantvariesbetween
of the plantvariesbetween 76.8 and 98.1 per76.8 and 98.1 percent (Figure 23). However,
cent
(Figure
most of the
time,
in most
of 23).
the However,
time, theintreatment
rate
is
the
treatment
rate
is
below
90
percent,
which
below 90 percent, which means to a certain
means
a certain
extent
that
water
extent to
that
polluted
water
is polluted
discharged
intois
discharged
the Kharaa River.
the Kharaainto
River.
Figure 24.BOD
of treatedwastewater
Figure concentrations
24. BOD concentrations
of
of the Darkhan WWTP
treatedwastewater of the Darkhan WWTP
Thus,
and suspended
suspended isThe
discharged
into
the Kharaa
River. 24and
The results
Thus, concentrations
concentrations of
of BOD
BOD and
results are
presented
in Figure
25,
solids
of
the
treated
wastewater
have
been
anare
presented
in
Figure
24and
25,
respectively.
solids of the treated wastewater have been respectively.
alyzed
to determine
how how
muchmuch
polluted
water
analyzed
to determine
polluted
water is discharged into the Kharaa River.
48
48 project.
Water Quality
the Kharaa
River
Basin,
Water of
Quality
of the Kharaa
River
Basin,Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
The wastewater BOD concentrations at the outlet of the
The
wastewater
concentrations
at the
the
outlet
The wastewater
BOD
at
outlet
ofofthethe
plant
range between
3.1concentrations
and 33.6 mg/land
rarely
exceed
plant range
rangeAcceptable
between3.1
3.1
and33.6
33.6mg/land
mg/l
rarelyexceed
exceed
plant
between
and
Maximum
Concentration
of and
20rarely
mg/l,
set
by the
the
Maximum
Acceptable
Concentration
of
20
mg/l,
set
Maximum
Acceptable
Concentration
of
20
mg/l,
set
bybythe
Mongolian National Standard for Discharge of Treated Wastethe
Mongolian
National
Standard
for
Discharge
of
Treated
Mongolian
Standard for
Discharge of Treated
water into National
the Environment
MNS:4943-2011
(NSA, Waste2011).
Wastewater
into
the
Environment
MNS:4943-2011
(NSA,
water
into
the
Environment
MNS:4943-2011
(NSA,
2011).
This shows that even though the treatment rate of the plant
is
2011).
This
shows
that
even
though
the
treatment
ratethe
This
shows
that even
treatmentdischarged
rate of theinto
plant
is
not high
enough,
the though
treatedthe
wastewater
of
the
plant
is
not
high
enough,
the
treated
wastewater
not
highRiver
enough,
thesignificant
treated wastewater
discharged
into
Kharaa
has no
organic pollutant
in most
of the
discharged into the Kharaa River has no significant organic
Kharaa
cases. River has no significant organic pollutant in most of the
pollutant in most of the cases.
Figure 22.The Darkhan Wastewacases.
terThe
Treatment
Plant
Figure
Darkhan
Wastewater
Figure22.
22.The
Darkhan
WastewaOn
the
other
hand,
the
concentrations
of
suspended
solids
ter
Treatment
Plant
Treatment
Plant
On the other hand, the concentrations of suspended solids
On
the other
hand, the
ofregularly
suspended
solids
of
treated
wastewater
areconcentrations
quitehigh
highand
and
regularlyexceed
exceed
of treated
wastewater
are
quite
of
treated
wastewater
are
quite
high
and
regularly
exceed
the
Concentration
of 50
as per
the Maximum
MaximumAcceptable
Acceptable
Concentration
of mg/l,
50 mg/l,
the
Maximum
Acceptable
Concentration
of
50
mg/l,
per
MNS:4943-2011
(NSA,
2011).
In
general,
the
concentrations
as per MNS:4943-2011 (NSA, 2011). In general, asthe
MNS:4943-2011
2011). Insolids
general,
concentrations
of
suspended solids
in wastewater
are similar
to
those ofarethe
concentrations
of(NSA,
suspended
in the
wastewater
of
suspended
solids
in Kharaa
wastewater
similar to those of the
similar
to those
of the
Riverare
water.
Kharaa
River
water.
Kharaa River water.
The Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant
Figure 25.Suspended
solids concentrations
in treated in
wastewater
Figure 25. Suspended
treated of
the
Darkhan
WWTP
wastewater
of the Darkhan
WWTPwastewater of
Figure 25.Suspended
in treated
the Darkhan WWTP
The Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant requires
The Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant requires substansubstantial technical upgrading and construction
The
Darkhan upgrading
Wastewater
Plant
requires
tial
technical
andTreatment
construction
maintenance.
Most
maintenance.
Most treatment
process
units
of thesubstanplant
tial
technical
upgrading
and
construction
maintenance.
Most
treatment
process
units
of
the
plant
are
outdated,
with
rather
are outdated, with rather mediocre treatment efficiencies.
treatment
process
units
the wastewater
plant
areconstruction
outdated,
with
mediocre
treatment
The
of plant
arather
new
The construction
ofefficiencies.
a ofnew
treatment
mediocre
treatment
efficiencies.
The
construction
of
a
new
wastewater
treatment
plant
may
be
needed.
may be needed.
wastewater treatment plant may be needed.
The
(2009)
developed
a simulation
modeling
The MoMo
MoMoproject
project
(2009)
developed
a simulation
modeling
ofproject
the
Darkhan
Wastewater
Treatment
Plant
The
MoMo
(2009) developed
aPlant
simulation
modeling
of
the
Darkhan
Wastewater
Treatment
to improve
and
to
improve
and
optimize
the
treatment
processes
of
of
the
Darkhan
Wastewater
Treatment
Plant
to
improve
and
optimize the treatment processes of the plant, in terms of both
the
plant,
in
terms
of
both
the
quality
and
quantity
optimize
the
treatment
the plant, inasterms
the quality
and
quantityprocesses
of treatedofwastewater,
well of
as both
with
of
treated
wastewater,
as
well
as
with
regard
to
the
the
quality
and
quantity
of
treated
wastewater,
as
well
as
with
regard to the energy consumption of the plant for the aeration
energy
consumption
of
the
plant
for
the
aeration
of
the
regard
to the energy
consumption
of the plant
the aeration
of the biological
tanks.
In the framework
of theforfollow
up the
biological
tanks.
In
the
framework
of
the
follow
up
thethe
of
the biological
tanks. In researchers
the framework
of Helmholtz
the follow Centre
up
MoMo
project first-stage,
of the
MoMo project first-stage, researchers of the Helmholtz
MoMo
project first-stage,
researchers
of have
the Helmholtz
for Environmental
Research
of Germany
developedCentre
an inCentre for Environmental Research of Germany have
for
Environmental
Research
of Germany
have developed
integrated
concept for
decentralized
wastewater
treatmentanand
developed an integrated concept for decentralized
tegrated
concept
for
decentralized
wastewater
treatment
and
have
built
a
pilot
plant
to
test
it
in
local
Mongolian
conditions.
wastewater treatment and have built a pilot plant to
have
a pilot
plant
to testconditions.
it in wastewater
local Mongolian
conditions.
In
the
decentralized
pilot2012,
plantthe
with
testMay
itbuilt
in2012,
local
Mongolian
In May
In
May
2012,
the
decentralized
wastewater
pilot
plant
with
integrated
woodwastewater
production was
handed
decentralized
pilotcommissioned
plant with and
integrated
integrated
wood production
was commissioned
andhanded
handed
wood production
was commissioned
and
Outlet of the Darkhan WWTP
Outlet of the Darkhan WWTP
49the
The intellectual property rights belong to UNOPS and UNDP, the information should not be used by a third party before consulting with
Pollution
threats
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threatsand
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
49
49
UNDP-GEF project
over to the College of Polytechnics in Darkhan
of the Mongolian University of Science
and Technology. This innovative concept
was developed through the cooperation of
Mongolian and German researchers with
the aim to contribute to solving problems
such as the lack of access to appropriate
sanitation; increasing water scarcity and
deforestation, caused by a high demand of
wood for heating (www.ufz.de).
In addition to municipal wastewater,
wastewater from various industries and
tanneries is combined with the municipal
wastewater of Darkhan without any pretreatment, which may cause serious
environmental and health problems. A
wide variety of industries are located in
Darkhan, including slaughter houses, wool
factories, bakeries and confectioneries,
pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, power
stations, printing houses, vehicle repair
shops, etc.
4.1.2. Solid waste
At the national level, the amount of municipal
solid waste is growing rapidly, while the
composition of solid waste is becoming
more and more diversified with increasing
volumes of non-biodegradable waste such as
plastics. In general, solid waste management
is inadequate throughout the country and the
absence of a proper waste disposal system
creates significant environmental and health
concerns. In early 1990s, outdoor burning of
household garbage was commonly practiced
as a method of waste disposal throughout the
country to reduce household waste quantities
and also to separate recyclable material
from waste. Concerns about the impact of
this practice on air quality led to its banning
nationwide. However, no new solutions for
waste management have been introduced
thus far, and open burning continues to
be practiced in some places. Only a small
portion of solid waste is recycled despite a
potential market for recycled waste materials
such as plastics, glass bottles, and scrap
metals. In 2012, the Parliament of Mongolia
adopted a new “Law on Solid Waste”. This
new law replaces the previously existing Law
on Household and Industrial Waste and Law
on Hazardous and Toxic Chemicals. It has
introduced 3R ‘reduce, recycle, and reuse’
principles.
Over the past years, solid waste management
is becoming an increasingly significant
problem the Kharaa River Basin, mainly due
to the concentration of the population in
urban areas, changes in economic structure,
growing consumption and changing lifestyles,
as in any other parts of Mongolia. There are
growing concerns about inappropriate solid
waste management and increasing litter.
Municipal solid waste, including garbage
from larger cities and small towns, account
for the biggest share of solid waste generated
and disposed of in the region. However,
there are no systematic and comprehensive
data to quantify the amount of solid waste
generated in the Kharaa River Basin as a
whole. While, in larger cities, municipal
solid waste is collected and disposed of in
landfills or dumpsites, most small towns do
not have proper solid waste management
systems.
Solid waste management in Darkhan
The city of Darkhan–the largest urban centre
in the Kharaa River Basin–accounts for the
biggest share of the municipal solid waste
generated in the basin.
A feasibility assessment of solid waste
management in the city of Darkhan was
conducted by the Ministry of Nature,
Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, in
cooperation with the Korea Environment
Cooperation, in 2011 (MNET, 2011). Based
on this assessment, the city’s solid waste
generation has increased nine times during
the past decade. The amount of municipal
solid wastes collected and disposed of in the
Darkhan area is summarized in Table 20. As
shown in the table, total waste generation in
the Darkhan city was approximately 49,640
tons in 2010, with a per capita waste
generation of about 1,8 kg per day (MNET,
2011).
50 project.
UNDP-GEF project
Table
category,
2010
(tons/
Table20.Quantities
20.Quantitiesand
andcomposition
compositionofofsolid
solidwaste
wastegenerated
generatedininDarkhan
Darkhanbybysource
source
category,
2010
(tons/
year,
wet
weight)
year, wet weight)
Source
Paper
Cardboard
Glass
Metal
Plastic
Wood/green waste
Animal remains
Other organic
Other inorganic
HHW
Mixed waste
Total
Apartment
building
area
1057.3
2730.2
1588.6
1022.6
953.1
1444.5
680.1
585.8
1007.7
238.3
610.6
12613.5
‘Ger’
district
area
744.6
282.9
819.1
1027.6
794.2
1384.9
868.7
1310.5
2874.2
387.2
794.2
16832.9
Office buildings and
service
areas
2283.4
2591.2
2874.2
357.4
1360.1
1747.3
1653.0
1002.7
412.0
665.2
511.3
16277.0
Streets and
public
space
297.8
620.5
397.1
248.2
248.2
1092.1
516.3
496.4
3916.6
Total
4383.2
6224.9
5678.8
2655.7
3107.5
4825.0
4293.9
2899.0
4810.1
1290.6
2412.5
49640.0
Data source: MNET, 2011
In
solid
waste
is deIn apartment
apartmentbuildings,
buildings,thethe
solid
waste
is
posited
in in
a aroom
and
deposited
roomon
onthe
the ground
ground floor and
collected
waste management
management companies.
companies.
collected by
by waste
In areas with
In
with lower
lower buildings
buildings and
andindividual
individual
houses, community
communitybins
bins
available
for
houses,
areare
available
for each
each
block.
Residents
of
‘ger’
districts
are
block. Residents of ‘ger’ districts are required
required
deposit
their household
wastes in
to
depositto
their
household
wastes in designated
designated
areas.
areas.
The city’s
city’ssolid
solid
waste
is disposed
the
The
waste
is disposed
of at of
theatBaraBaraat
central
waste
disposal
site
and
other
at central waste disposal site and other five unfive unofficial
sites.
Thewaste
Baraat
waste
official
disposaldisposal
sites. The
Baraat
disposal
disposal
site at
is the
located
at the
northern
edge
site
is located
northern
edge
of the city
in
of the city in 15 kilometers from Darkha.
15 kilometers from Darkhan. The site covers an
The site covers an area of 15.02 hectares.
area of 15.02 hectares. The disposal site does
The disposal site does not have a waste
not have a waste sorting facility.
sorting facility. The Public Utility Services
Department of the
The
Public Utility
Services Department
of the
Municipality
of Darkhan
is responsible
for
Municipality
ofcollection
Darkhan and
is responsible
for
overseeing the
transportation
overseeing
the
collection
and
transportation
of municipal solid waste from the apartment
of
municipal
solid
fromoffice
the buildings,
apartment
buildings
area,
‘ger’waste
districts,
buildings
area,
‘ger’
districts,
office
buildings,
service areas such as hotels, restaurants
and
service
areas
such as
as hotels,
and
shopping
centers,
well asrestaurants
for street and
shopping
centers,
as
well
as
for
street
and
public space cleaning. Waste collection
public
cleaning.
collection
trucks space
pick up
mixed Waste
solid wastes.
All trucks
solid
pick
up mixed
solid wastes.
wastessites
are
wastes
are transported
to All
thesolid
disposal
transported
to the disposal
without presorting.
There sites
is nowithout
system prefor
waste separation
source.
has no
sorting.
There is noatsystem
for The
wastecity
separation
official
recycling
in place
as of yet.
at
source.
The city program
has no official
recycling
program in place as of yet.
In 2007, the city of Darkhan developed and
implemented
a project
on rehabilitation
of
In
2007, the city
of Darkhan
developed and
the Baraat central solid waste disposal site.
The project was financed by the Ministry
implemented
a project on rehabilitation
of the
of Nature, Environment
and Tourism.
At
Baraat
central
waste disposal
site. The
the request
of solid
the Ministry,
the Institute
of
project
was
financed
by
the
Ministry
of
Nature,
Geo-ecology of the Mongolian Academy of
Sciences developed
general
Environment
and Tourism.
At guidelines
the requestfor
of
a landfill
facility
in Mongolia.
In 2008,ofthe
the
Ministry,
the Institute
of Geo-ecology
the
solid waste Academy
at the Baraat
Mongolian
of disposal
Sciences developed
site wasguidelines
removed for
to aasmaller
disposal
general
landfill facility
in Monarea
in
order
to
reduce
the
site
area,
through
golia. In 2008, the solid waste at the Baraat disthe financial
Ministry
of
posal
site was support
removedfrom
to a the
smaller
disposal
Nature,
area
in order to reduce the site area, through
Environment
and Tourism,
as part
of the
the
financial support
from the
Ministry
of Naproject.
Rehabilitation
works
and
ture, Environment and Tourism, as part oftree
the
plantingRehabilitation works and tree planting
project.
works were
wereimplemented,
implemented,asaswell.
well.
works
In 2010, the Municipality of Darkhan
developed
In 2010, the Municipality of Darkhan devela programme “Darkhan – a clean city”,
oped a programme “Darkhan – a clean city”,
adopted by the Darkhan City Council of
adopted
by the Darkhan City Council of RepRepresentatives.
resentatives.
Thewill
programme
will be impleThe programme
be implemented
mented
for
the
period
from
2010
for the period from 2010 to 2014.to 2014.
This programme has three main objectives,
This
as programme has three main objectives, as
follows:
follows:
Objective 1: Establish an efficient and
Objective
suitable 1: Establish an efficient and suitable
system
system for
for waste
wasteseparation
separationatatsource:
source:
•• Develop
Developa methodology
a methodology
determine
to to
determine
the
types
andand
composition
of solid
theamount,
amount,
types
composition
of
solid from apartment buildings, ‘ger’ diswastes
wastes
from apartment
buildings,
tricts,
enterprises
and industrial
plants,‘ger’
and
districts,relevant studies on waste generaconduct
enterprises and industrial plants, and
tion;
conduct relevant studies on waste
generation;
51
Pollution
project.
51
UNDP-GEF project
• Develop a database on solid waste
generation in the Darkhan-Uul aimag
(province), with an inventory system for solid
wastes from households, business areas and
industries;
• Implement pilot projects of waste separation
in selected districts and select optimal
alternatives for waste separation in apartment
building areas, ‘ger districts’, and business
and service areas;
• Establish a specific site for the collection
of recycled waste materials in order to
support the voluntary collection and sale of
recyclable waste materials by individuals
and residents;
• Increase the involvement of enterprises
in waste separation by providing waste
separation containers to shops, supermarkets,
service providers and in the streets.
Objective 2: Establish a waste sorting and
recycling plant and implement projects
on reuse and recycling of household and
industrial wastes and waste materials
• Adopt economic tools to motivate to
produce less waste and use the resources
more efficiently in production, services and
other sectors at the local level;
• Operate a regular site for the exchange and
sale of used materials (such as books, clothing,
newspapers, journals, home furniture,
etc.), as well as for sharing information and
advertisements of enterprises that collect/
purchase secondary raw materials (recyclable
waste materials), in order to support waste
separation, recycling and reuse with
increased participation of residents and
individuals;
• Conduct a study on the quantity, types
and composition of secondary raw materials
(recyclable waste materials) and on technical
and economic feasibility of waste recycling,
and build a waste recycling and sorting plant;
• Implement projects on waste recycling/
reprocessing and sorting, based on the
composition of wastes from different
sources, including projects to separate and
process organic wastes from households and
restaurants to produce compost for use as a
fertilizer;
• Support enterprises operating storage,
collection and transportation of secondary
raw materials.
Objectives 3. Improve the collection,
transportation and disposal of solid wastes.
• Transport all solid wastes from enterprises,
public organizations and households;
• Modernize waste disposal systems of
enterprises;
• Improve waste collection, storage and
transportation services;
• Select waste collection and storage sites
taking into account of specific conditions of
different areas such as service and business
areas, public areas, apartment building areas,
and ‘ger’ districts, respectively;
• Increase public awareness by disseminating
information handouts and training pamphlets
about more efficient management of solid
wastes;
• Develop new routines and schedules for
cleaning streets and public spaces, and waste
collection from enterprises, apartments
buildings and ‘ger’ districts;
• Estimate costs of waste removal and the
reclamation of land used by enterprises and
individuals for the purposes such as
unfinished construction and garages, and
collect these costs from them;
• Support public officers, administrators of
local communities and public organizations,
apartment
co-ownership
associations,
enterprises and individuals for their
accomplishments and efforts made in
improving waste management in their
communities;
• Organize a “Organization with No Waste”
competition amongst local communities,
public
organizations,
apartment
coownership associations, enterprises and
industries with no open-waste disposal sites;
• Implement technologies for solid waste
disposal in landfills.
Consequently, the solid waste management
in the Darkhan city is expected to improve
over the coming years, as a result of the
“Darkhan – a clean city” programme.
52 project.
UNDP-GEF project
4.2. Industrial
4.2.
Industrialpollution
pollution
The
Darkhan,
which
is located
in the in
Kharaa
BaThe city
cityofof
Darkhan,
which
is located
the River
Kharaa
sin,
is
one
of
the
largest
industrial
centres
in
Mongolia.
It
River Basin, is one of the largest industrial centres in is
home
to most
country’s
largeofindustries,
steel proMongolia.
It isofhome
to most
country’sincluding
large industries,
duction,
and building
material and
manufacturing,
includingconstruction
steel production,
construction
building
material
and
leather Many
factories,
textile
andmanufacturing,
leather factories, textile
and food
processing.
other
and food are
processing.
otherincluding
industries
areprocessing,
located
industries
located inMany
Darkhan,
food
in Darkhan,
food processing,
vehicle
repair, including
and the production
of woolenvehicle
textiles,repair,
carpets,
and thesheepskins,
productionand
of clothing.
woolen textiles,
carpets,dressed
dressed
Lime quarrying
and metal
sheepskins,
clothing. Lime
quarrying
and metal
foundries
have and
also experienced
a large
growth, becoming
imfoundries
have
also
experienced
a
large
growth,
becoming
portant contributors to the local economy. There has been a
important contributors to the local economy. There has
significant growth in the dairy industry and milk production
been a significant growth in the dairy industry and milk
too. The Darkhan Thermal Power Plant (a coal power plant)
production too. The Darkhan Thermal Power Plant (a coal
supplies
electricity
for the
city, as well
as to
other
power plant)
supplies
electricity
for the
city,
as larger
well ascities.
to
The
of these
othersize
larger
cities.enterprises varies greatly. In general, most
enterprises are quite small.
The size of these enterprises varies greatly. In general,
The
industry,
which once
the biggest
employmostconstruction
enterprises
are quite
small.wasThe
construction
er,
has been
declining
overthe
thebiggest
past years
and now
industry,
which
once was
employer,
hasemploys
been
declining
over the
pastlabor
yearsforce
andofnow
only
only
six percent
of the
the employs
city. In the
lastsix
few
percent
the labor has
forcebegun
of thetocity.
In thewith
last few
years,
years,
theof economy
diversify
investments
thetransportation,
economy has
begun
diversify with owing
investments
in
storage
andtocommunications
to good
in transportation,
and
communications
owing
road
and rail links to storage
other large
cities
such as Ulaanbaatar
and
to
good
road
and
rail
links
to
other
large
cities
such
as
Erdenet.
Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet.
The steel production and processing industry has experienced
The steel production and processing industry has
the greatest growth in the past few years. The Darkhan Metalexperienced the greatest growth in the past few years.
lurgical
Plant, located
in the city
of Darkhan,
is the
The Darkhan
Metallurgical
Plant,
located in
the only
city steel
of
and
iron processing
plant
in and
Mongolia.
The plant was
Darkhan,
is the only
steel
iron processing
plantestabin
lished
in 1994
and employs
500 staff.
produces
100,000
Mongolia.
The plant
was established
in It1994
and employs
tons
steelIt per
year from
iron ore
and
500 of
staff.
produces
100,000
tons
of scrap.
steel per year from
iron ore and scrap.
Environmental impact assessments have not been conducted
Environmental
impact assessments have not been
for
most of small enterprises.
conducted for most of small enterprises.
Critical concentrations of toxic heavy metals were reported at
concentrations
of toxic
heavy metals
were
reported
aCritical
sampling
site one kilometer
downstream
of the
city
of Darkat
a
sampling
site
one
kilometer
downstream
of
the
citysamof
han (MNET, 2011).The concentration of mercury at the
Darkhan
(MNET,
2011).The
concentration
of
mercury
at
pling site was 0,5 µg/l. Increased concentrations of chromium
the sampling site was 0,5 μg/l. Increased concentrations
were also detected, which can be caused by pollution from
of chromium were also detected, which can be caused by
leather industries in the city.
pollution from leather industries in the city.
The Darkhan city
The Darkhan city
4.3.
Mining
4.3. Mining
Open
mining is one of the major sources of pollution in the
Open mining is one of the major sources of pollution
study
foundare
in the
Kharaa
in thearea.
studySeveral
area. mining
Several reserves
mining are
reserves
found
in
River
Basin
and
occupy
an
area
of
about
16
percent
the
the Kharaa River Basin and occupy an area of aboutof16
total
areaofofthe
thetotal
basin.
percent
area of the basin.
The Darkhan city
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
53
53
UNDP-GEF project
Some of the mines are not yet exploited, which
Some of
mines areand
notdevelopment
yet exploited,
means
thattheexploration
liwhich of these
meansreserves
that may
exploration
and
censes
have been issued
development licenses of these reserves may
to mining companies, with mining operations
have been issued to mining companies, with
not
having started. The mining area under opmining operations not having started. The
eration
1.5operation
percent ofrepresents
the total area
mining represents
area under
1.5
of
the
basin,
which
is
about
9.3
percent
of the
percent of the total area of the basin, which
is
total
area
for
mining
purposes
(Figure
26).
about 9.3 percent of the total area for mining
purposes (Figure 26).
One of the most productive gold mining sites
of
Mongolia,
the productive
Boroo Goldgold
Mine,
is located
One
of the most
mining
sites
of the
Mongolia,
the Boroo
Gold
Mine,
is located
in
Boroo River
Basin,
which
is one
of the
in the Boroo
River
Basin,
which
one of Gol
the
tributary
of the
Kharaa
River.
TheisSharyn
tributary
of the Kharaa
River.
The coal
Sharyn
Gol
Coal
Mines—the
second
largest
mining
Coal Mines-the second largest coal mining
company in Mongolia, which produces over
company in
Mongolia,
which
produces
over
1.000.000
tons
of coal per
year—is
also locat1.000.000
tons River
of coal
per year—is also
ed
in the Kharaa
Basin.
located in the Kharaa River Basin.
There are no systematically observed data to
There are no systematically observed data to
assess
pollution from
from mining
mining activities
activities in
in
assess the
the pollution
the
basin,
which
may
have
serious
negative
imthe basin, which may have serious negative
pacts
not not
onlyonly
on surface
water quality,
but also
impacts
on surface
water quality,
on
groundwater
and
soil.
Heavy
metals
(such
but also on groundwater and soil. Heavy
as
mercury
andascyanide)
used
metals
(such
mercurywere
and commonly
cyanide) were
in
small-scaleused
gold in
mines
mines until
themines
use of
commonly
small-scale
gold
mines until
the use
of mercury
mercury
for
mercury
mercury
for mining
and extract
minermining
and
extract
minerals
was
banned
in
als was banned in 2008.
2008.
Figure 26. Mining areas of the Kharaa river basin
Figure 26. Mining areas of the Kharaa River Basin
An incident of a possible mercury and
An
incidentcontamination
of a possible mercury
and cyanide
cyanide
of groundwater
contamination
of
groundwater
caused
by a
caused by a tailings spill from a small mining
tailings
spillinfrom
a small
mining
in
operation
Khongor
soum
was operation
recorded in
Khongor
2007. soum was recorded in 2007.
As
project project
(2009), concenAs part
partof the
of MoMo
the MoMo
(2009),
concentrations
heavy
metals waters
in surface
trations
of heavy of
metals
in surface
and
waters
and
the
river
sediment
were
measured.
the river sediment were measured. The study
The studythat
indicated
that the concentrations
indicated
the concentrations
heavy metals
heavy metals in the river water and sediment
in
theariver
water and
had a correlahad
correlation
to sediment
mining activities
and
tion
to
mining
activities
and
tended
to
increase
tended to increase in areas downstream from
in
areas sites.
downstream
from River,
miningforsites.
In the
mining
In the Boroo
example,
Boroo
River, forof example,
of
concentrations
arsenic in concentrations
the surface water
arsenic
in
the
surface
water
were
above
the
were above the threshold level for drinking
threshold
level
drinking
water
of 10 µg/l,
water of 10
μg/l,for
and
elevated
concentrations
of arsenic,
chromium,of mercury
and
and
elevatedlead,
concentrations
arsenic, lead,
nickel
were
found
in
the
sediment.
chromium, mercury and nickel were found in
the sediment.
usedQuality
by a third
party
before
with the
of the
Kharaa
Riverconsulting
Basin, Mongolia:
54 The intellectual property rights belong to UNOPS and UNDP, the information should not beWater
54 project.
UNDP-GEF project
Boroo Gold
GoldMine
Mine
Boroo
Boroo Gold
GoldMine
Mine(Figure
(Figure27)
27)is islocated
located
The Boroo
in
in
110
kilometers
to
the
northwest
of
the
110 kilometers to the northwest of the capital
capital
city of Ulaanbaatar
230
city
of Ulaanbaatar
and aboutand
230about
kilometers
kilometers
south of the boundary
international
to
the southto
of the
the international
with
boundary
with
Russia,
at
48°45’
Russia, at 48°45’ North and 106°10’North
East. and
106°10’ East.
The Boroo Mine was the first hard-rock gold
The
Mine in
wasMongolia
the first and
hard-rock
gold
mineBoroo
established
the largest
mine
established
andatthe
foreign
investmentininMongolia
the country
thelargest
time
foreign
investment
in
the
country
at
the
time
it began production. The Boroo Gold Mine
is
itowned
began by
production.
The
Boroo
Gold
Mine
the Canadian mining company,is
owned
by the
Canadian
CenCenterra
Gold
Inc. Itmining
begancompany,
commercial
terra
Gold Inc.
began commercial
production
inItMarch
2004 and production
produced
more
than2004
46 tons
gold through
in
March
and ofproduced
more the
thanend
46
of 2010
(www.boroogold.mn).
The Boroo
tons
of gold
through the end of 2010
(www.
project
consists
of
a
suspended
open-pit
boroogold.mn). The Boroo project consists of
an inactive
processing
amine,
suspended
open-pitheap
mine,leach
an inactive
heap
facility,
an
operating
processing
plant,
leach processing facility, an operating processa tailings facility, ore and waste rock
ing plant, a tailings facility, ore and waste rock
stockpiles, and other surface infrastructure
stockpiles, and other surface infrastructure nornormally associated with an open pit mining
mally
associated
with anand
open
pit mining
opoperation.
Wastewater
sludge
from the
eration.
mining operation of the Boroo Gold Mine is
stored in a tailings facility (a reservoir behind
Wastewater
and sludge from the mining operaa dam).
tion of the Boroo Gold Mine is stored in a tailings facility (a reservoir behind a dam).
©Batimaa P., 2013
Figure 27. The Boroo Gold mining site
Figure 27. The Boroo Gold mining site
The tailings facility is located in the Ikh Dashir
Valley and connected to the process plant by a
five-kilometer pipeline (Figure 28). This facility
received the government’s approval in 2003.
It has a storage facility designed to store used
water for reclamation and re-use. The bottom
of the tailings facility is sealed with a compacted clay liner and a high-density polyethylene
liner on all embankments. In 2007, Centerra
Inc. constructed an extension to the original
tailings dam. In 2008, lateral dykes were constructed for water management purposes. In
2009, an additional storage capacity was created by increasing the height of dykes in the
north. In 2010, the facility increased the height
of the south, east and west walls for further ex-
pansion. In 2011, the tailings dam walls were
raised by 2.5 meters and its final design capacity for the existing Boroo mineral reserves was
completed. The current design of the tailings
facility provides a total storage capacity of 16.9
million cubic meters of tailings, which is sufficient to store the entire volume of tailings over
the lifetime of the mine.
The leaching of the tailings is monitored at
eight monitoring wells (MW), located downstream of the tailing dam. The monitoring of
both groundwater levels and the water quality
in the aquifers is conducted by an independent
company and is reported to the (former) National Water Authority.
Pollution
threats
assessment
Pollution
threatsand
andhotspots
hotspots
assessment
project.
55
55
UNDP-GEF project
Figure 28.The tailing facility of the Boroo mining
Figure 28. The tailing facility of the Boroo mining
©Batimaa P., 2013
Table 21. Results of chemical analysis of the monitoring wells
Table 21.Results of chemical analysis of the monitoring wells
Elements
K
Na
CI
SO4
NO2
NO3
pH
CN total
CN free
MAC levels
(MNS
6148:2010)
na
na
3
350
500
1
50
6.5-8.5
0.1
MW#4
CN WAD
0.005
<0.002
Cr
AI
Mn
na
0.07
0.5
<0.05
<0.02
<0.015
Mo
Ba
Zn
Ni
Co
Ag
U
Fe
As
Cd
0.1
0.04
2
5
0.1
na
0.02
0.3
0.01
0.003
<0.01
<0.03
<0.05
<0.01
<0.01
<0.05
0.016
0.02
<0.01
<0.005
Cu
Pb
Hg
1
0.05
0.002
<0.01
<0.01
<0.001
Se
0.04
<0.05
1.93
112.8
0.34
97
242.3
0.14
2.79
7
<0.002
Averages of 2012 samples (January -October)
Monitoring wells
MW#7 MW#8
MW#9
MW#14 MW#4A
8.34
284
0.32
324
1042
0.14
8.36
6.88
<0.00
2
<0.00
2
<0.05
<0.02
<0.01
5
<0.01
<0.03
<0.05
<0.01
<0.01
<0.05
0.016
0.02
<0.01
<0.00
5
<0.01
<0.01
<0.00
1
<0.05
MW#3
MW#1
1.66
129.4
0.3
98.7
212.7
0.02
2.9
7.0
<0.001
2.34
65.5
0.3
80.8
196.5
0.05
2
7.1
<0.001
2.7
139.4
0.34
112
251.7
0.02
2.18
7.1
<0.001
2.76
113.6
0.32
110
315.8
0.15
5.2
7.0
<0.001
2.7
83.2
0.37
82.8
420
0.02
5.3
7
<0.001
2.19
96
0.45
61.5
120.2
0.02
5.7
6.9
<0.001
<0.05
<0.05
<0.05
<0.05
<0.05
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.05
<0.001
<0.05
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
Data source: Boroo Gold Mine, 2013
56 project.
56
Water
Quality
ofofthe
Water
Quality
theKharaa
KharaaRiver
RiverBasin,
Basin,Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
The
The average
averagedepth
depthofofthese
thesemonitoring
monitoringwells
wellsis
50-65
meters,
the
groundwater
table
is
38.2
is 50-65 meters, the groundwater table to
is
44.62
meters
yieldand
is 0.02
l/s.to 0.9
38.2 to
44.62and
meters
yieldtois0.9
0.02
l/s.
According to the average values of the water
According
to theof average
values
the
quality
parameters
2012 of these
eightofmonwater
quality
parameters
of
2012
of
these
itoring wells (Table 21), the concentrations of
eightpollutants
monitoring
(Table
21), the
most
were wells
below the
Maximum
Acconcentrations
of
most
pollutants
were
ceptable Concentrations in most of the below
monithe Maximum Acceptable Concentrations
toring
wells, set in the Mongolian National
in most of the monitoring wells, set in the
Standard on Water Quality: Permissible Levels
Mongolian National Standard on Water
for
Groundwater
Pollutants
MNS
6148:2010
Quality:
Permissible
Levels for
Groundwater
(NSA,
2010).
Pollutants MNS 6148:2010 (NSA, 2010).
In
case,
the concentration
of a pollutIn only
onlyone
one
case,
the concentration
of a
ant
exceeded
the
MAC
level,
where
the
conpollutant exceeded the MAC level, where
centration
of sulfatesof(SO4)
in the
Monitoring
the concentration
sulfates
(SO4)
in the
Monitoring
Well
No.7
wasthan
twice
than
Well
No.7 was
twice
higher
thehigher
Maximum
Acceptable
Concentration
value.
Also, it was
the Maximum
Acceptable
Concentration
not
clear
whether
concentrations
selected
value. Also, it was not clearof whether
pollutants
and some
heavy metals
such as and
cyaconcentrations
of selected
pollutants
nide
cadmium
(Se), cobalt
some(CN),
heavy
metals(Cd),
suchselenium
as cyanide
(CN),
cadmium
(Cd),
(Se), (Hg)
cobalt
(Co),
arsenic
(As)selenium
and mercury
in (Co),
some
arsenic
(As) and
mercury
(Hg)
some
wells
exceeded
the MAC
values.
Theinconcenwells exceeded
the MAC
trations
of these pollutants
werevalues.
reportedThe
as
concentrations
of
these
pollutants
were
less than certain levels, without indicating their
reported
as less than certain levels, without
exact
values.
indicating their exact values.
However, it still should be noted that in case of
However, it still should be noted that in case
aofleakage,
the tailings
fromfrom
the mine
may cause
a leakage,
the tailings
the mine
may
heavy
metals
contamination
in
the
Boroo
River
cause heavy metals contamination in the
(a
tributary
Kharaa
and conseBoroo
Riverof(a the
tributary
of River)
the Kharaa
River)
quently
will have potentially
seriouspotentially
impacts on
and consequently
will have
both
surface
wateronand
groundwater
resources
serious
impacts
both
surface water
and
of
the Kharaa River
Basin.of the Kharaa River
groundwater
resources
Basin.
4.4. Agriculture
4.4.
Agriculture
Mongolia’s
productive
agricultural
areas
Mongolia’smost
most
productive
agricultural
lands
are in
found
in the Kharaa
Riverand
Basin
are
found
the Kharaa
River Basin
the
and the surrounding
region.
The soil
region’s
soil
surrounding
region. The
region’s
and natand
natural
climatic
conditions
are
favorable
ural climatic conditions are favorable for the
for the cultivation
cereals
and vegetables,
cultivation
of cerealsofand
vegetables,
especially
especially
potatoes.
There
are
35
agricultural
potatoes. There are 35 agricultural producers
producers
and agricultural
in
and
agricultural
cooperativescooperatives
in the Kharaa
the Kharaa River Basin.
River Basin.
ing
wheat11.9
and percent
basic vegetables
and
occupies
occupies
of the total
area
of the
Kharaa
RiverofBasin.
30
11.9
percent
the totalThis
areaarea
of thecontains
Kharaa Rivthousand
hectares
of soil suitable
for arable
er
Basin. This
area contains
30 thousand
hectcrops
and
1,287.8
thousand
hectares
for
ares of soil suitable for arable crops and 1,287.8
vegetable
production.
thousand hectares for vegetable production.
Despite the expansion of the urban economy,
Despite the
expansion
themain
urbanactivity
economy,
livestock
farming
is stillofthe
and
livestock farming is still the main activity and
major means of sustaining livelihoods and food
major means of sustaining livelihoods and
security of the rural population. There are apThe cropland in the valleys along the Kharaa food security of the rural population. There
The
the valleys
the Kharaa
130,000
heads heads
of livestock
in the
Rivercropland
and its in
tributaries
is along
used mainly
for proximately
are approximately
130,000
of livestock
River
and
its
tributaries
is
used
mainly
for
growDarkhan-Uul
aimag
(NSO,
2010).
growing wheat and basic vegetables and in the Darkhan-Uul aimag (NSO, 2010).
Figure 29.
29. Cropland
Cropland area
area on
Figure
on the
the Kharaa
Kharaa River
River bank
bank
Pollution
project.
57
57
UNDP-GEF project
Figure 30. Bornuur cropland farming near the Boroo Riverbank
Figure 30. Bornuur cropland farming near the Boroo River bank
In Mongolia,
in
Mongolia, the
theuse
useofofchemical
chemicalfertilizers
fertilizers
agriculture
is insignificant.
Traditionally,
fertilizin agriculture
is insignificant.
Traditionally,
fertilizer
is not
forproduction.
cereals production.
er
is not used
forused
cereals
Currently,
Currently,
natural
fertilizer
such
as
animal
natural fertilizer such as animal manure
is the
manure
is
the
most
widely
used
fertilizer
most widely used fertilizer for vegetables. Acfor vegetables.
According provided
to the information
cording
to the information
by the of3
of and
the Ministry
of
provided
by
the
officials
ficials of the Ministry of Food
Agriculture,
Food
and
Agriculture,
the
total
fertilizer
use
the total fertilizer use is about 1,200 tons per
is about 1,200 tons per year in Mongolia.
year in Mongolia. Consequently, the impact of
Consequently, the impact of fertilizer use
fertilizer
use in agriculture on the water quality
in agriculture on the water quality of the
of
the
Kharaa
River Basin
is insignificant,
Kharaa River Basin
is insignificant,
givengiven
the
the
insignificant
amount
of fertilizer
in
insignificant
amount
of fertilizer
used used
in crop
crop
production.
production.
to,
or directly
on, the banks
of the
Kharaa
close
to, or directly
on, the
banks
of Rivthe
er
(Figures
29 and
30). The
the
Kharaa
River
(Figures
29 proximity
and 30). ofThe
proximitytoofsurface
the cropland
to surface
waters
cropland
waters may
have potential
may
have
potential
impacts
on
water
quality
impacts on water quality and sedimentation of
andriver
sedimentation
of the
river systems of the
the
systems of the
basin.
basin.
According to data of land use and land cover
According
to data of2006),
land use
andthan
land60
cover
studies
(Hudelmer,
more
perstudies (Hudelmer, 2006), more than 60
cent of the total area of the Kharaa River Bapercent of the total area of the Kharaa River
sin
is used as pasture land for livestock grazBasin is used as pasture land for livestock
ing.
Hence,
the livestock
grazing
is the ismajor
grazing.
Hence,
the livestock
grazing
the
non-point
sourcesource
of pollution
to surface
waters,
major non-point
of pollution
to surface
leading
fecal contamination
and direct nutriwaters, to
leading
to fecal contamination
and
ent
inputs
to
the
river
water
during
warm
seadirect nutrient inputs to the river water during
However,
thethe
cropland
is located
close sons.
However,some
someofof
cropland
is located
warm seasons.
4.5. Pollution hotspots mapping
4.5. Pollution hotspots mapping
Based on the identification of major pollution
sources in the Kharaa River Basin, a pollution
Based
onmapping
the identification
of major
pollution
hotspots
was carried
out. The
areas
sources
in
the
Kharaa
River
Basin,
a
pollution
of concern, or potential pollution hotspot,
have been
identified
regard
to The
potential
hotspots
mapping
waswith
carried
out.
areas
impacts
on the
of surface
waters
and
of
concern,
or quality
potential
pollution
hotspot,
groundwater
resources
in regard
the Kharaa
River
have
been identified
with
to potential
Basin.
impacts on the quality of surface waters and
groundwater resources in the Kharaa River Ba-
The overview of the areas of concern in the
Kharaa River Basin is shown in Figure 31.
sin.
overview
of the areas
of concern
in the
TheThe
pollution
hotspots
mapping
has shown
Kharaa
River
Basin
is
shown
in
Figure
31.
similar results as the major points of concern
identified by the MoMo project (2009).
The pollution hotspots mapping has shown
similar results as the major points of concern
identified by the MoMo project (2009).
3Statement of Mr. Sh. Baranchuluun, Senior officer at Ministry of Industry and Agriculture, during the National Workshop conducted in the framework
of Mr. Sh.Mongolia,
Baranchuluun,
Senior officer at Ministry of Industry and Agriculture, during the NaofStatement
this study in Ulaanbaatar,
on 04 June 2013
3
tional Workshop conducted in the framework of this study in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on 04 June 2013
58 project.
58
Water
Quality
ofofthe
Water
Quality
theKharaa
KharaaRiver
RiverBasin,
Basin,Mongolia:
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
Figure
31. Map
of areas
of concern
(potentialpollution
pollution hotspots)
Figure
31.Map
of areas
of concern
(potential
hotspots)ininthe
the
Kharaa
River
Basin
Kharaa River Basin
4.6. Environmental and health impacts
Kharaa River Basin became a Mongolia’s waters and groundwater systems across the
4.6.The
Environmental
and region
health
impacts
major
industrial and agricultural
basin.
Other environmental factors such as
in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s with
the establishment of the industrial city of
The Kharaa
River
Basin
became
a and
Mongolia’s
Darkhan
(on 17
October
1961)
an agroindustrial
farming
complex
to
change
the
major industrial and agricultural region in the
country’s
base
traditional
late 1950’s
and economic
early 1960’s
withfrom
the establishlivestock
production
into
modern
ment of the industrial city of Darkhanindustrial
(on 17
and agricultural economies. The political
October
and an
agro-industrial
and 1961)
economic
changes
from the farming
socialist
complex
to tochange
the country’s
economic
regime
a democratic
system and
a market
base from
traditional
livestock production
economy
in 1990-1991
resulted ininto
the
collapse
of agricultural
production.
Currently,
modern
industrial
and agricultural
economies.
the
agricultural
sector
is
rebounding
The political and economic changes from with
the
increasing wheat production over the past
socialist regime to a democratic system and a
several years.
deforestation, over-grazing, and land use
changes resulting from the extensive tillage
offorpollutants
tocrop
surface
waters and
cereal and
production
havegroundwater
become
increasingly
apparent,
too.
As
a
result
of these
systems across the basin. Other environmental
environmental
impacts of industrial
andand
factors
such as deforestation,
over-grazing,
agricultural
activities,
the
lower
and
middle
land use changes resulting from the extensive
reaches of the basin have shown degradation
tillage
cereal
and crop
production have beof the for
pristine
natural
environment.
come increasingly apparent, too. As a result of
these
environmental
The water
demand in impacts
the basinofis industrial
increasing and
year after year
due tothe
population
growth,
agricultural
activities,
lower and
middle
industrialization,
mining
development,
reaches of the basin have shown degradation
of irrigated agriculture and lifestyle
ofgrowth
the pristine
natural environment.
changes. Furthermore, climate change
impacts are becoming more evident. The
The
water
in thechanges
basin isand
increasing
current
anddemand
future climate
their
year
after coupled
year duewith
to population
impacts,
enhanced growth,
climate invariability,
will
likely
increase
water
scarcity
dustrialization, mining development, growth
the Kharaa
River Basin,
as well as
in
ofin irrigated
agriculture
and lifestyle
changes.
treated municipal and industrial wastewater Mongolia as a whole (Batimaa et al, 2005
Furthermore, climate change impacts are bedue to outdated wastewater plants has led to and 2011).
The industrial
agricultural
development
of coming more evident. The current and future
increasingand
loadings
of pollutants
to surface
market economy in 1990-1991 resulted in the
collapse
agricultural
production.development
Currently,
Theof
industrial
and agricultural
the agricultural
sector
is rebounding
inof the region,
hence,
has become with
the main
driver
of
environmental
change
in
the
creasing wheat production over the past sevKharaa
River
Basin.
The
discharge
of
poorly
eral years.
the region, hence, has become the main driver climate changes and their impacts, coupled
of environmental change in the Kharaa River with enhanced climate variability, will likely inThe intellectual property rights belong to UNOPS and UNDP, the information should not be used by a third party before consulting with the
Basin,
Basin.Pollution
The
discharge
ofassessment
poorly treated munici- crease water scarcity in the Kharaa River 59
threats
and hotspots
project.
pal and industrial wastewater due to outdated as well as in Mongolia as a whole (Batimaa et
wastewater plants has led to increasing loadings al, 2005 and 2011).
UNDP-GEF project
Hence, the impact of climate change on water
resources’ and water availability is seen as an
equally important concern for the future water
Hence,
thecountry.
impact of climate change on
supplies
of the
water resources’ and water availability is
an equally
important
concern
for the
Sinceseen
theas 1990
transition,
mining
activities
future water supplies of the country.
have grown significantly in the region and gold
mining
is playing
an increasingly
important
part
Since
the 1990
transition, mining
activities
have grown significantly in the region and
gold mining is playing an increasingly
in the country’s economy. With the expansion
of the mining industry, concerns over environmental and health impacts of mining activities
important
part
in the country’s
are
becoming
increasing
important,economy.
especially
With the
of the
mining
because
theexpansion
Boroo Gold
Mine
(one ofindustry,
the most
concerns
over
environmental
and
productive gold mines in Mongolia) is health
located
impacts of mining activities are becoming
in the Kharaa River Basin.
increasing important, especially because the
Boroo Gold Mine (one of the most productive
gold mines in Mongolia) is located in the
Kharaa River Basin.
Figure 32. Runoff forming and river bank protection zone
Figure 32. Map of areas of concern (potential pollution hotspots) in the
Kharaa River Basin
Several incidents of releases of hazardous and
highly toxic substances such as mercury and
Several
of releaseswere
of hazardous
cyanide
intoincidents
the environment
caused and
by
highly toxic substances such as mercury and
lack of compliance with environmental and
cyanide into the environment were caused by
health
regulationswith
for environmental
the management
lacksafety
of compliance
and
and health
disposal
of
tailings
from
mining
activities.
safety regulations for the management
and disposal of tailings from mining activities.
The The
most serious
incidentincident
occurred occurred
in Khongorin
most serious
April
2007
and was
caused
soumKhongor
in Aprilsoum
2007inand
was
caused
by the
reby
the
release
of
large
quantities
of
mercury
lease of large quantities of mercury and cyanide
the soil and
groundwater
into and
the cyanide
soil andinto
groundwater
from
a smallfrom a smallscale mining operation. The
scale mining operation. The Khongor incident
Khongor incident has raised a serious
has raised
a serious
concernthe
over
among
the loconcern
over among
local
population
cal population
over environmental
and health
over environmental
and health
effects
effects
which
might
result
this environwhich
might
result
fromfrom
this environmental
contamination. The initial investigations
mental contamination. The initial investigations
were conducted jointly by the World Health
were conducted
by the World Health
Organization,
the jointly
joint UNEP/OCHA
EnvironOrganization, the joint UNEP/OCHA
ment Unit, and the Mongolian authorities and
Environment Unit, and the Mongolian
highlighted
the need to conduct a health risk
authorities and highlighted the need to
assessment
the population
at risk.
conduct a for
health
risk assessment
for Upon
the
request
of theatMongolian
Government,
Joint
population
risk. Upon
request ofa the
UN
mission Government,
consisting of international
experts
Mongolian
a Joint UN mission
consisting
of international
experts from
the
from
the World
Health Organization
(WHO),
World
Health
Organization
(WHO),
the
the United Nations Environmental Programme
United
Nations
Environmental
Programme
(UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organi(UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture
zation (FAO), took place in February-March
Organization (FAO), took place in February2008
to assess
situation
regardswith
to efMarch
2008 the
to assess
thewith
situation
fects
of mercury
andofcyanide
contamination
regards
to effects
mercury
and cyanideon
human
health, food
animal health,
contamination
onproduction,
human health,
food
production, animal health,
60 60 project.
Water
Quality
of of
thethe
Kharaa
River
Basin,
Mongolia:
Water
Quality
Kharaa
River
Basin,
Mongolia:
UNDP-GEF project
and
TheThe
results
of neurological
and medical
and the
theenvironment.
environment.
results
of neurological
and
medical examinations
conducted
by WHO
among
the
examinations
conducted by
WHO among
the local
population
local
at risk
noteffects
suggest
any health
effects
at
risk population
did not suggest
anydid
health
which
could be
attribwhich
beexposure
attributed
mercury
exposure
or acute
uted
to could
mercury
or to
acute
cyanide
poisoning.
cyanide poisoning. To address growing concerns over
environmental
and concerns
health impacts
of the miningindustry,
To
address growing
over environmental
and health
the
Parliament
of
Mongolia
adopted
the
Law
on
Prohibition
impacts of the miningindustry, the Parliament of Mongolia
of Mineral Exploration and Mining Activities in areas in
adopted the Law on Prohibition of Mineral Exploration and
the Headwaters of Rivers, River Protection Zones and
Mining Activities in areas in the Headwaters of Rivers, River
Forested Areas (2009). This law prohibits any economic
Protection
andthe
Forested
Areas of
(2009).
law prohibactivity in Zones
areas of
headwaters
rivers,This
streams,
and
its
any economic
activity inofareas
the headwaters
creeks
and in a distance
200ofmeters
and more ofinrivers,
the
streams,
creeks
and inConsequently,
a distance of 200
more
riparian and
zone
of a river.
themeters
formerand
Water
in
the riparian
of a river.
the former
Water
Authority
has zone
identified
riverConsequently,
protection zones
in all rivers
Authority
has identified
river
zones
all rivers in
in Mongolia.
The Institute
of protection
Meteorology
andinHydrology
Mongolia.
Thealso
Institute
of Meteorology
and
has dehas defined
the headwaters
areas
ofHydrology
all river basins
of Mongolia.
The map ofareas
the of
river
protection
zones
and
fined
also the headwaters
all river
basins of
Mongolia.
headwaters
areas
the Kharaa
River
is shown
inof
The
map of the
riverofprotection
zones
andBasin
headwaters
areas
Figure
32.
the Kharaa River Basin is shown in Figure 32.
The Orkhon River Valley
A Hayland
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
61
61
UNDP-GEF project
62
project.
UNDP-GEF project
Conclusionsand
and
5.5.Conclusions
Recommendations
Recommendations
Pollution
project.
©Batimaa P., 2013
UNDP-GEF project
5.1. Conclusions
The Kharaa River Basin is one of the main
tributaries of the Orkhon-Selenge River
system, which ultimately drains to Lake
Baikal. The Orkhon River is the longest river
in Mongolia and the valley along the river is
an archaeologically-rich cultural landscape.
Heritage Site. The Selenge River is the largest
river by volume of flow. The upper basin is in
a relatively pristine state and has experienced
minimal anthropogenic impacts. The lower
basin is characterized by diverse economic
activities such as industry, agriculture and
livestock breeding, which may potentially
have significant impacts on the quantity
and quality of water resources of the basin.
Furthermore, the basin provides drinking
water for the rapidly-growing Darkhan City,
which water supplies largely rely on alluvial
aquifers
containing
shallow-depth
groundwater, and the inhabitants of small
human settlements in the basin.
resources are under increasing pressure. The
Kharaa River Basin is facing relatively high
anthropogenic pressures on both water quality
and water quantity from rapid urbanization,
rising water demand and climate change.
The pollution of the Kharaa River Basin is
becoming a growing concern due to the
high vulnerability of the basin to urban
and industrial pollution. The assessment
of water quality and water pollution in the
Selenge River Basin, undertaken by this
study, focused on a case-study on pollution
hotspots and pollution threats in the Kharaa
River Basin, including urban water pollution
in the city of Darkhan, Mongolia.
The main objectives of this study were to
assess the current state of the water quality
of the Kharaa River Basin, assess water
pollution from diffuse and point sources,
identify pollution hotspots in the basin,
and determine the main pressures on the
water quality of the Kharaa River, with a
qualitative description of their impacts. The
study focused on: the survey of water quality
characteristics of the Kharaa River; the
identification of anthropogenic impacts on
the river’s water quality; the identification of
major threats to the water quality in the basin;
and the development of recommendations
on pollution prevention and control in the
Kharaa River Basin.
The assessment of the water quality in the
Kharaa River is based on both hydrochemical
and hydrobiological parameters. The
hydrochemical assessment is based on
hydrochemical monitoring data collected by
the Central Laboratory for Environment and
Meteorology for the period from 1986 through
2011. The hydrobiological assessment is
based on macroinvertebrates data collected
by the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology
and Environment for the period from 2005 to
2010. As part of the Mongolia’s freshwater
quality monitoring network, the Kharaa River
water quality has been monitored at four
sampling points at two monitoring stations
since 1986. The upper monitoring station,
which is the reference site of the study, is
located near Zuunkharaa (a small urban
settlement) and has two sampling points
upstream and downstream from Zuunkharaa.
The second monitoring station is located
near to Darkhan city and has two sampling
points too-upstream and downstream from
the city. The overall assessment of the
chemical composition has shown good
chemical conditions at all sampling sites on
the Kharaa River. The Kharaa River water
is moderately mineralized and moderately
hard. The monthly mean concentrations
of total dissolved salts (the sum of Ca2+,
Na++K+, Mg2+, HCO3 -, SO4 2- and Cl-), or
mineralization, in the Kharaa River vary
between 162.2-335.7 mg/l and show a
tendency to increase towards downstream.
The concentrations of total dissolved salts
increase also during snow melting periods.
64 project.
UNDP-GEF project
In
thethe
order
of of
abundance
of of
catInaavast
vastmajority
majorityofofthe
thecases,
cases,
order
abundance
2+ 2+ + + + +
2+2+
>Na
>Mg , and
, andthe
theorder
orderof
ofabundance
abundanceof
cations
>Na
+K+K>Mg
ions
is Cais Ca
- 2->Cl-. The pH values range
2->SO
of anions
is HCO
anions
is HCO
->SO
>Cl
.
The
pH
values
range
between
3 4
4
3
between
6.5
and
8.5,
which
is
within
the
standard
range
6.5 and 8.5, which is within the standard range for river
wafor river waters.
ters.
Thedissolved
dissolvedoxygen
oxygen
concentration
of the
Kharaa
The
concentration
of the
Kharaa
RiverRiver
range
range from 3.8 to 14.0 mg/l. The concentrations biological
from 3.8 to 14.0 mg/l. The concentrations biological oxygen
oxygen demand (BOD) varies between 0.3 mg/l and 7.8
demand (BOD) varies between 0.3 mg/l and 7.8 mg/l. In most
mg/l. In most of the cases, the BOD concentrations are
of
the cases,
the BOD concentrations
are below theofMaximum
below
the Maximum
Acceptable Concentration
5 mg/l,
Acceptable
Concentration
5 mg/l, theNational
standard Standard
set by the
the standard
set by the ofMongolian
Mongolian
for Water
Quality of the
Aquatic
for Water National
Quality Standard
of the Aquatic
Environment:
General
Environment:
MNS
4586-98.that
ThisininRequirementsGeneral
MNS Requirements
4586-98. This
indicates
dicates
general
is clean.
However,
generalthat
the inriver
waterthe
is river
clean.water
However,
it should
be it
should
be noted
that concentrations
the BOD concentrations
occasionally
noted that
the BOD
occasionally
exceed
the Maximum
Acceptable
Concentrations
(5 mg/l)(5atmg/l)
bothat
exceed
the Maximum
Acceptable
Concentrations
sampling
sitessites
during
summer.
ThisThis
maymay
show
thatthat
organic
both
sampling
during
summer.
show
organpollutants
originating
from
urban
and
industrial
areas
ic pollutants originating from urban and industrial areasand
and
livestockwastes
wastesenter
enter
river
surface
washing
livestock
thethe
river
withwith
surface
washing
during
duringrainfall
heavyevents
rainfallinevents
in summer.
heavy
summer.
Monthly mean concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen
Monthly mean concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen (NH4(NH4-N) range between 0.09 and 0.38 mg/, while the
N) range between 0.09 and 0.38 mg/, while the concentrations
concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) vary from
of
nitrate-nitrogen
-N) period
vary from
0.01
to 0.84
mg/l for
the
0.01
to 0.84 mg/l(NO
for 3the
from
1985
to 2010.
The
period
from 1985oftophosphate
2010. The (PO4-P)
concentrations
phosphate
concentrations
are in ofthe
range
(PO
-P)
are
in
the
range
from
0.01
to
0.21
mg/l.
The
phosphate
from
4 0.01 to 0.21 mg/l. The phosphate concentrations
concentrations
in the
Kharaa
Rivermuch
were much
thanthe
the
in the Kharaa
River
were
lowerlower
than
nitrogen
concentrations.
Both
phosphate
and
nitrogen
connitrogen concentrations. Both phosphate and nitrogen
centrations
showshow
a decreasing
trendtrend
nearnear
Zuunkharaa,
while
concentrations
a decreasing
Zuunkharaa,
while
there
is
no
trend
near
the
city
of
Darkhan.
The
there is no trend near the city of Darkhan. The concentrations
concentrations
of NO3-N
near Zuunkharaa
of
NO3-N near Zuunkharaa
have decreased
since 1990s.have
Simidecreased
since
1990s.
Similarly,
PO4-P
concentrations
larly, PO4-P concentrations have decreased near Zuunkharaa.
have decreased near Zuunkharaa.
The nutrient concentrations in the Kharaa River water usually
The nutrient
concentrations
in thetime
Kharaa
River water
increased
during
spring and summer
and sometimes
exusually increased during spring and summer time
ceeded the Maximum Acceptable Concentrations by the order
and sometimes exceeded the Maximum Acceptable
of 2 to 3 times. However, the number of cases, in which the
Concentrations by the order of 2 to 3 times. However,
nutrient
concentrations
MAC concentrations
levels represents
the number
of cases, inexceeded
which thethe
nutrient
less
than 5 percent
of levels
all samples.
exceeded
the MAC
represents less than 5 percent
of all samples.
There are very limited observed data on metals, except for
are measured
iron
(Fe)
(Cr6+) ions,
There
areand
verychromium
limited observed
datawhich
on metals,
except forat
6+
the
sampling(Cr
points
of both
monitoring
sites. The
) ions,
which
are measured
at
irondownstream
(Fe) and chromium
the downstream
sampling points
of both
monitoring
sites.
monthly
mean concentrations
of Fe
vary between
0.08
and
The mg/l
monthly
mean concentrations
of during
Fe vary
between
0.15
with concentrations
increasing
rainy
seasons.
6+ 0.15 mg/l with concentrations increasing during
0.08
and
The Cr concentrations range below the detection level to
range below the
rainymg/l
seasons.
Theincrease
Cr6+ concentrations
0.01
and also
in rainy seasons.
detection level to 0.01 mg/l and also increase in rainy
seasons.
Water crown
The Selenge River
Bayangol crop area
Horses
under a tree
A hot day
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and
hotspots
assessment
project.
65
65
UNDP-GEF project
At the upper reaches of the river near the
Zuunkharaa monitoring station, the quality
of the Kharaa River water can be classified
as ‘very clean’ to ‘clean’, except for few
cases. The river water quality decreases in
lower reaches of the river near the city of
Darkhan. However, more than 95 percent of
the all samples show that the river’s water
quality can be classified as ‘clean’. A slight
deterioration in the river’s water quality
to the ‘slightly-polluted’ level is observed
during high-water periods of snowmelt in
April to May, as well as in low-water periods
in June.
The analysis of the macro-invertebrate
communities at the two monitoring sites of
the Kharaa River watershed indicates that
the ecological condition of the river is good.
The assessment of the fish communities has
shown a good, or a very good, ecological
status at the sites. A moderate status, detected
at two sites in the watershed, is caused by the
absence of ubiquistic species, showing no
clear deficits in the ecological integrity of the
fish fauna. Most of the fish species are known
to occur in the Kharaa River Basin. According
to the Biotic Index and EPT criteria, the water
quality of the Kharaa River can be classified
as ‘clean’ at both monitoring sites.
However, the water quality of the Kharaa
River has been decreasing at the reach near
Baruunkharaa since 2005, while it stays stable
at Darkhan. This shows that the quality of the
river’s water at the reach near Baruunkharaa
has been continuously declining for the last
six years.
In general, the water quality of the Kharaa
River is lower in spring and improves in
summer.
The groundwater of the Kharaa River
Basin has a similar chemical composition
as the Kharaa River water. In general, the
calcium and bicarbonate are the dominant
ions at all groundwater sampling points.
The order of abundance of cations is
Ca2+>Na++K+>Mg2+,whereasthe order of
abundance of anions is HCO3->SO4 2- >Cl-.
The nutrient level in groundwater in aquifers
in the Kharaa River Basin is very low,
indicating that groundwater is clean.
The major point source of pollution appears
to be the wastewater treatment plants in urban
areas. There are five wastewater treatment
plants in the Kharaa River Basin, two of
which discharge their treated wastewater
directly into the Kharaa River.
The other three plants have no direct outlet to
the Kharaa River. Most soums (small towns)
do not have wastewater treatment facilities
and infrastructure. A majority of households
in soums use simple traditional pit latrines
in their compounds. The Darkhan WWTP is
biggest in the basin and discharges its treated
wastewater directly into the Kharaa River.
The wastewater treatment rate of the plant
varies between 76.8 and 98.1 percent.
However, in most of the time, the treatment
rate is below 90 percent, which means to a
certain extent that polluted water is
discharged into the Kharaa River. The
WWTPs in Zuunkharaa, Baruunkharaa and
Khongor soums, which are located in the
upstream reaches of the basin, are smaller
and have no direct outlet to the Kharaa River.
On the other hand, the treated wastewater of
these plants is discharged to infiltration ponds
and the sludge is disposed of in sludge fields
close to the Kharaa River. The sludge field of
the Zuunkharaa WWTP is located particularly
close to the river bank and therefore, there is
a potential risk of pollution of groundwater,
soil and river water by leakage from the
sludge ponds.
During high water periods, especially in
snow melting times, the water quality of the
Kharaa River deteriorates to ‘moderatelypolluted’ and ‘very-polluted’ near urban
settlements such as Darkhan, Baruunkharaa
and Zuunkharaa. This indicates that
the Kharaa River water quality is highly
vulnerable to pollution; in particular, in areas
close to point sources of pollution, such as
urban areas, and in source areas of diffuse
pollution, such as agriculture and mining.
Open mining is one of the major sources of
pollution in the study area.
66 project.
UNDP-GEF project
Several large mining reserves are located
in the Kharaa River Basin and occupy an
area of about 16 percent of the total area
of the basin. Some of the mines are not yet
exploited. The Boroo Gold Mine, which is
one of the most productive gold mines of
Mongolia, is located in the basin. There are
no systematically observed data to assess the
pollution from mining activities in the basin,
which may have serious negative impacts
not only on surface water quality, but also on
groundwater and soil. Heavy metals (such as
mercury and cyanide) were commonly used
in small-scale gold mines until the use of
mercury for mining and extract minerals was
banned in 2008. Elevated concentrations of
heavy metals, but not exceeding the MAC
levels, were detected in groundwater in
monitoring wells near the tailings facility
of the Boroo Gold Mine. An incident of a
possible mercury and cyanide contamination
of groundwater caused by a tailings spill
from a small mining operation in Khongor
soum was recorded in 2007.
Mongolia’s most productive agricultural
areas are found in the Kharaa River Basin and
the surrounding region. The region’s soil and
natural climatic conditions are favorable for
the cultivation of cereals and vegetables,
especially potatoes. The use of chemical
fertilizers in agriculture is insignificant.
Traditionally, fertilizer is not used for cereals
production. Natural fertilizer such as animal
manure is the most widely used fertilizer for
vegetables. According to the information
provided by the officials of the Ministry of
Food and Agriculture, the total fertilizer use
is about 1,200 tons per year in Mongolia.
Consequently, the impact of fertilizer use
in agriculture on the water quality of the
Kharaa River Basin is insignificant, given the
insignificant amount of fertilizer used in crop
production. However, some of the cropland
is located close to, or directly on, the banks
of the Kharaa River. The proximity of the
cropland to surface waters may have potential
impacts on water quality and sedimentation
of the river systems of the basin.
More than 60 percent of the total area of the
Kharaa River Basin is used as pasture land for
livestock grazing. Hence, the livestock
grazing is the major non-point source of
pollution to surface waters, leading to fecal
contamination and direct nutrient inputs to
the river water during warm seasons.
The assessment also shows that the self
purification rate in the Mongolian rivers
is usually high with the distance of self
purification of 6 to 18 kilometers. The self
purification distance of the Kharaa River
appears to be 10 kilometers downstream
from the city of Darkhan. Consequently,
the Kharaa River water becomes clean at
its outlet at the confluence with the Orkhon
River, with no adverse impacts on the water
quality of the Orkhon and Selenge rivers.
In overall, the results of the study show that
the water quality of the Kharaa River Basin
is clean and has good ecological conditions,
although The water quality of the Kharaa
River decreases occasionally to ‘moderatelypolluted’ and ‘very-polluted’ near urban and
industrial areas, as well as during high water
periods and snow melting times. This shows
that moderate pollution occurs near urban
areas and in snow melting periods, with
no serious degradation in the water quality
of the whole basin. The main sources of
water pollution in the basin are urban areas,
agriculture and mining activities. Due to rapid
urbanization and economic development,
pollution from municipal wastewater and
mining activities may become a concern in
the future. Furthermore, the Kharaa River
Basin is facing growing pressures from
climate change and rising water demands.
Hence, the sustainable use and management
of water resources of the Kharaa River Basin
is of crucial importance in securing future
water supplies in the area.
Pollution
project.
67
UNDP-GEF project
5.2. Recommendations
Based on the results of the water quality
assessment of the Kharaa River Basin,
the following observations are made and
recommendations for future improvements
in key areas are outlined below.
Water quality monitoring
• The monitoring and analysis of key water
quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen,
biological oxygen demand, and heavy metals
is limited to only the Darkhan monitoring
station. It is recommended to modify the
monitoring programme and include all
these parameters in all sampling points of all
monitoring stations in order to identify more
reliably the sources of pollution.
• The water quality monitoring does not
hydrological parameters such as the river
water discharge. It is recommended to
measure the river streamflow at the time of
water sampling.
• The Kharaa River water quality monitoring
is carried out once a month during the
months from April through November at the
Zuunkharaa (upstream) monitoring station,
and once a month throughout the year at the
Darkhan monitoring station. Samples are
collected mostly in the second half of each
month. It is recommended to increase the
sampling/ monitoring intervals and carry
out sampling according to hydrological
conditions (for example, snowmelt, summer
baseflow, heavy rain events, etc.) in addition
to the routine sampling intervals.
• The monitoring carries out the chemical
analysis only of the river water, but not of
bottom sediments and particulate matters in
the river water. It is recommended to analysis
particulate matters in the river water.
Particulate matters and bottom deposits are
an important factor in the study of water
quality in that it yields valuable information
about the source of settle able particulate
solids, the effect of the sediments on the
quality of the overlying water and the
biological system that will predominate.
• There is no regular groundwater quality
monitoring in the Kharaa River Basin. The
existing groundwater monitoring wells do
not monitor the quality of groundwater. It
is recommended to establish a groundwater
monitoring network in the basin to
monitor both the water level and quality of
groundwater.
• The sampling sites for chemical and
biological monitoring are located in different
parts of the basin. It is recommended to
conduct biological, and chemical monitoring
at the same sites, if possible.
Wastewater management
• The wastewater treatment plants are the
main source of pollution. The wastewater
treatment plants in the basin are outdated,
poorly maintained and based on obsolete
technology. There is a need to make
substantial investment to upgrade existing
wastewater treatment plants and build new
ones.
• The Darkhan Wastewater Treatment Plant,
which is the biggest in the basin, is not able to
fully treat raw sewage before discharging the
treated wastewater directly into the Kharaa
River. Its wastewater treatment rate is mostly
below 90 percent. The Salkhit Wastewater
Treatment Plant also discharges its treated
wastewater directly into the Kharaa River
after only primary mechanical and biological
treatment. It is recommended to rehabilitate
urgently the Darkhan and Salkhit Wastewater
Treatment Plants, which discharge their
effluents directly into the Kharaa River.
• The wastewater treatment facilities in the
small cities and villages in the Kharaa River
Basin are mostly out of operation. Most of
these facilities discharge their treated
68 project.
UNDP-GEF project
wastewater
in in
infiltration
ponds.
The
wastewater
infiltration
ponds.
Thesludge
sludgefrom
fromthese
theseplants
plants
is disposed
of inofsludge
fieldsfields
located
close close
to the to
Kharaa
River.
is disposed
in sludge
located
the Kharaa
River.
This
raises a concern
over groundwater
and
This
raises
a concern
over groundwater
nutrientsnutrients
and heavy
heavy
metal contamination
leakage
from
sludge
metal
contamination
by leakagebyfrom
sludge
fields.
It isfields.
recIt is recommended
to reconstruct
the wastewater
treatment
ommended
to reconstruct
the wastewater
treatment
plants
in Zuunkharaa,
Baruunkharaa,
and Khongor
soums
in plants
Zuunkharaa,
Baruunkharaa,
and Khongor
soums and
reand
rehabilitate
infiltration
ponds
and
sludge
fields
of
these
habilitate infiltration ponds and sludge fields of these facilifacilities.
ties.
Agricultural
pollution
Agricultural
pollution
A groundwater
well
At
the well
river
banks
of the
RiverRiver
Basin—especially,
the
• • TheThe
river
banks
of Kharaa
the Kharaa
Basin—especialBoroo
River
bank
near
Bornuur—are
heavily
used
for
ly, the Boroo River bank near Bornuur—are heavily used for
cropland,
leading
to soil
erosion.
This,
in
cropland,
leading
to soil
and and
riverriver
bankbank
erosion.
This, in
turn,
turn,
causes
increased
suspended
solids
in
the
river
water.
causes increased suspended solids in the river water. It is rec-It
is recommended
to the
limituse
the use
of river
banksfor
forcultivation
cultivation
ommended
to limit
of river
banks
and
implement
soil
conservation
tillage
measures.
and implement soil conservation tillage measures.
useuse
of chemical
fertilizers
in agriculture
is insignificant.
• • TheThe
of chemical
fertilizers
in agriculture
is insignifiCurrently,
natural
fertilizer
such
as
animal
manure
is the
the
cant. Currently, natural fertilizer such as animal manure is
most
widely
used
fertilizer
for
vegetables.
The
impact
of
most widely used fertilizer for vegetables. The impact of fertilfertilizer
use in agriculture
the quality
water quality
of the Kharaa
izer
use in agriculture
on the on
water
of the Kharaa
River
River
Basin
is
insignificant,
given
the
insignificant
amount
Basin is insignificant, given the insignificant amount of fertilizer
of fertilizer
used in crop
production.
It istoencouraged
to
used
in crop production.
It is
encouraged
avoid and/or
avoid
and/or
restrict
the
use
of
chemical
fertilizers
in
the
restrict the use of chemical fertilizers in the future.
future.
A forest
near the Kharaa River
The
rainbow
Mining
pollution
Mining
pollution
• Open mining is one of the major sources of pollution in
•
Open mining is one of the major sources of pollution
the study area. There are no systematically observed data to
in the study area. There are no systematically observed data to
assess the pollution from mining activities in the basin. The
assess the pollution from mining activities in the basin. The wawater use and waste management is controlled in the most
ter use and waste management is controlled in the most of the
of the mining sites. However, the amounts of toxic waste
mining sites. However, the amounts of toxic waste containing
containing heavy metals particularly mercury and cyanide
heavy
metals particularly mercury and cyanide are unknown.
are unknown. A more systematic monitoring and reporting
A more
systematic
monitoring
and reporting
of compliance
of compliance
with
environmental
regulations
needs to be
with
environmental
regulations
needs
to
be
developed
for
developed for all mining operations.
all mining operations.
• Heavy metals (such as mercury and cyanide) were
• commonly
Heavy used
metalsin(such
as mercury
cyanide)
comsmall-scale
goldand
mines
untilwere
the use
of
monly
used
in
small-scale
gold
mines
until
the
use
of
mercury
mercury for mining and extract minerals was banned in
for2008.
miningThere
and extract
minerals
was banned
in 2008.
There up
is
is a need
to implement
measures
to clean
a need
to mercury
implement
measures
to clean up residual merresidual
in the
environment.
cury in the environment.
• An incident of a possible mercury and cyanide
• contamination
An incident ofofa possible
mercury andcaused
cyanide contamgroundwater
by
a
ination
of
groundwater
caused
by
a
tailings
spill
from
a
small
tailings spill from a small mining operation in
mining
operation
soum was
recorded
in 2007.
Khongor
soum in Khongor
was recorded
in 2007.
Such
cases
Such
cases
may
have
potentially
serious
impacts
on
the
may have potentially serious impacts on the
Tailing
facility
the Boroo
mining
Birds
in the
tailingoffacility
of the Boroo
mining
The Orkhon River
Pollution
threats
and hotspots
assessment
Pollution
threats
and hotspots
assessment
project.
69
69
UNDP-GEF project
environment and human health and
should be avoided in the future. There is
an urgent need to implement “responsible
mining” practices and closely monitor the
environmental safety of mining operations in
the basin.
Mining pollution
• Although the water quality of the Kharaa
River Basin is clean and has good ecological
conditions, the water quality of the Kharaa
River decreases occasionally near urban and
industrial areas. It is recommended to take
necessary measures to enhance and protect
the water quality of the Kharaa River from
urban and industrial pollution.
• Climate change is likely to increase the
river bank erosion in addition to the impact
of agricultural activities near the river banks.
In order to reduce the river bank erosion, it is
recommended to introduce river bank
prevention measures, such as planting trees
along the river bank.
• The Kharaa River water at its confluence to
the Orkhon River is still clean. It is, however,
needed to make efforts to preserve the water
quality of the river in order to maintain the
integrity of the basin and its ecosystems.
70 project.
UNDP-GEF project
project.
UNDP-GEF project
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17. Jadambaa, N.,2000. Groundwater Quality Overview. Ulaanbaatar. (unpublished
technical report)
18. Jadambaa, N.,2012. Groundwater Assessment of Mongolia. Technical report.
Ulaanbaatar.
19. Ministry of Environment, Nature and Tourism (MNET), 2011. Research report on waste
management in Darkhan city, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
20. MoMo, 2009. Integrated Water Resources Management for Central Asia–MoMo” Final
report.
21. Myagmarjav, B., and G. Davaa (eds),1999. Surface Water Resources of Mongolia.
Ulaanbaatar.
22. National Atlas, 2009. Institute of Geography (Editor: Dorjgotov D.) Ulaanbaatar.
23. National Standard Agency (NSA),1998. National Standard for Water Quality of the
Aquatic Environment: General Requirements. MNS 4586-98. Ulaanbaatar.
24. National Standard Agency (NSA), 2010. Mongolian National Standard on Water
Quality: Permissible Levels for Groundwater Pollutants MNS 6148:2010. Ulaanbaatar
25. National Standard Agency (NSA), 2011.Mongolian National Standard for Discharge of
Treated Wastewater into the Environment MNS 4943-2011. Ulaanbaatar
26. NSO, 2010. Population and housing inventory. Ulaanbaatar.
27. NSO, 2010. Statistics 2011. Ulaanbaatar
28. Vidon, P., C. Allan, D. Burns, T. P. Duval, N. Gurwick, S. Inamdar, R. Lowrance,
J. Okay, D. Scott, and S. Sebestyen, 2010. Hot spots and hot moments in riparian zones:
potential for improved water quality management, in Journal of the American Water Resources
Association.
Vol.46, No.2, pp 278-298.
Pollution
project.
73
UNDP-GEF project
Annex
1. Mongolian National Standard for Water Quality of the Aquatic Environment: General
Requirements. MNS 4586-98. Ulaanbaatar. (in Mongolian)
2. Mongolian National Standard on Water Quality: Permissible Levels for Groundwater
Pollutants MNS 6148:2010 (in Mongolian).
3. Mongolian National Standard for Discharge of Treated Wastewater into the Environment
MNS 4943-2011. Ulaanbaatar. (in Mongolian)
74 project.
UNDP-GEF project
Data analyses
1. The Kharaa River Water Hydro-biological Data Analysis for the period 2005-2010
A data analysis report prepared based on data provided by the Institute of Meteorology,
Hydrology and Environment of Mongolia. The report was prepared in the framework of this
study by Tumertsooj D. (in Mongolian language)
2. The Kharaa River Water Hydro-chemical Data Analysis for the period 1986-2011
A data analysis report prepared based on data provided by the Central Laboratory for
Environment and Meteorology of Mongolia. The report was prepared in the framework of
this study by Erdenebayar Y. (in Mongolian language)
Pollution
project.
75
UNDP-GEF project
76 project.

Water Quality of the Kharaa River Basin, Mongolia

Transcription

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