Vertical Density Inhomogeneity of Kama Reservoir Water Masses in the Region of Berezniki: Possible Genesis and Influence on the Stability of Water Use

Abstract

Abstract The stability of water supply systems is one of the main factors that determine the reliability of the functioning of large industrial complexes. This problem is considered on the example of the “Azot” branch of URALCHEM JSC in the city of Berezniki, which takes fresh industrial water from the Kama river (Kama reservoir). A specific feature of this water body is the significant variability of its hydrological regime. During the summer dry season, it is characterized by low flow velocities. In winter, with a decrease in the water level in the reservoir, a typical river regime is observed. In addition, there is a strong technogenic impact on the water body. The impact is formed largely due to non-declared dispersed (diffuse) sources. Their characteristic feature is high mineralization and, accordingly, the density of the formed wastewater. Their behavior is fundamentally different from the processes of dilution and migration of effluents with neutral buoyancy. A two-layer structure is formed, when the content of the main ions in the surface horizon is more than an order of magnitude less than in the bottom layer. This circumstance must be taken into account when assessing the reliability of the functioning of water intakes. The most effective tool for solving such problems is the conjugation of a complex of field monitoring observations with computational experiments using hydrodynamic models in one-, two- and three-dimensional formulations.