Industrial effluents of mining enterprises of the North Caucasus and water resources

Subject of research. The article is devoted to the problem of preserving the quality of the global water resources under the threat of its deterioration caused by industrial effluents polluting the hydrosphere. Research objective is to establish the patterns of changes in water resources state and carry out the ecological detailing of the mechanism for managing water quality and protecting water resources. Methods of research include the generalization and systematization of reported data and literature on the aquatic environment condition in the metallic ore mining regions and methods of mine effluents treatment, laboratory experiments on electrochemical treatment of mineralized effluents to restore their quality, recommendations for improving the management of the aquatic environment state. Research results and scope. A distinctive feature of the problem for regions with mountainous terrain is indicated. The surroundings of mining enterprises were ranked according to metal pollution. The research results on the effluents state at non-ferrous metallurgy facilities are presented. The results of research by the precipitation curve method are summarized. The laboratory experiment results are shown on electrochemical treatment of mineralized effluents and their quality restoration. The direction is indicated of improving the economic efficiency of effluents treatment by increasing by-products output. A technology with the generation of self-neutralizing agents is recommended. It has been established that in the case of heavy metal pollution, the extent of the pollution bubble is determined by the processes of chemicals mixing and dilution. Conclusions. The management of water resources quality and industrial effluents pollution prevention should begin with the establishment of patterns of change in their state as well as with the control mechanism detailing in mountainous terrain.