Feodosiya tap-water is not recommended for drinking
Water that Feodosiya inhabitants drink is not safe according to generally accepted sanitary norms. That is why the need to raise awareness amongst the town to the need to use other sources of drinking is keenly felt. Long ago, Crimean ecologists first began reporting on this issue. Since that time, many seminars and conferences have been held where scientists and professionals have tried to identify a solution.
Often Feodosiya inhabitants, in search of a drink of water, open the tap in their homes and fill a glass with turbid water that smells of chlorine. Recently research has shown that the water which comes through the Northern Crimean Channel into the Feodosiya water treatment facilities does not meet satisfactory marks in physical-chemical indexes. The solution is not much better. Water flows into homes after treatment and hyperchlorination, and is not recommended for drinking because, specialists say, it can lead to different diseases (mutagenic effect, depression of the immune system, decreases in reproductive functions, inborn development defects, and liver, kidney, endocrine and nervous systems illnesses).
Frontovoe reservoir is the main source of drinking water for Feodosiya. And it was chosen as a subject of an inquiry held in 2001-2002 by the Feodosiya branch of "Ekologiya I Mir". An investigation into the bottom of the reservoir was made with the help of professional divers. The results of that research showed that a silt dome (of 5-5.5 m height) almost completely closed off exit pipes in the reservoir. Furthermore, there was a silt layer (of 2200 m diameter) inside all the pipes: 30 cm high in one pipe and 80 cm high in another one. This data was confirmed by N. Lukyanenko, a chief of hydroscheme in Frontovoe, in January 2003.
Taking into account that the silt domes increase has not been addressed since 1977 and that there haven't even been any particular efforts at cleaning, we can assume that soon, complete closing of pipes exits will occur. During the months of May to October additional inputs of silt arrives daily - from reservoir and Northern Crimean Channel.
It is a catastrophic situation for environment and the health of the inhabitants. And while the gutters remain uncleaned from silt and crushed stones, water turbidity will increase, and hyperchlorination of water will become more frequent and intense. In the case of complete blockage of pipes that transfer water into the reservoir, water delivery will stop. Consequently the situation can be defined as a critical one that is on the verge of an eco-catastrophe!
Unfortunately, the main obstacle in finding a workable solution is as always in money. The city government simply does not have enough for the necessary repair work.
Now research into Nasypnoe reservoir (which was closed in 1972) is being planned by the Feodosiya branch of "Ekologiya I Mir" and a group of water volunteers. If water in the Nasypnoe reservoir is found to be satisfactory, it may be possible to use it as an alternative source during the period of time needed to repair and clean the Frontovoe reservoir. No matter what, it will be a better solution than simply waiting for silt to close-off the water passageways and leave the town without any water at all.
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