Regularities in Formation of the Long-term Water Balance
in the Cascade of Technological Ponds on the Techa River
(the Mayak Industrial Association)

V. I. Osipov, S. M. Semenov, and G. I. Batrak

Institute for Environmental Geoscience, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Ulanskii per. 13, Moscow, 101000 Russia

Received December 29, 1997

Abstract—The industrial radioactive ponds pose a considerable hazard to the environment; therefore, an
extremely thorough study of water regimes and balances and a search for the optimum measures on their safe
operation are required. Regularities in the long-term changes in the water-balance structure permit us to reveal
the dynamics and the role of the main balance-forming factors; in particular, atmospheric precipitation, evapo-
ration, liquid radwaste disposal, and subsurface water exchange.¹