Institute of Northern Water Problems of Karelian Research Centre of RAS 1 (Petrozavodsk, Russia):

Borodulina G. S., Senior Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, e-mail: bor6805@yandex.ru

Karelian subsidiary of the Federal Budgetary Public University “Territorial fund of geological information on the North-West Federal district” (Petrozavodsk, Russia):

Igonin A. V., Head of Department

The share of groundwater in balance of water supply in Karelian Republic never exceeds 5 %. It is the worst index for Russian regions. Groundwater of Karelia often has an unsatisfactory quality, what is necessary to improve the groundwater utilization. Karelian territory includes a considerable part of Baltic hydrogeological massive and a small area of Leningrad artesian basin. The groundwater areas are suitable for water supply. These areas are unevenly located on Karelian territory. Only 15 groundwater areas are prepared for water supply. Currently, the value of identified resources is 37100 m³/d. 56 % of the whole value account for water bearing horizons (2 groundwater areas). The rest groundwater areas account for fractured Archean-Proterozoic rocks and quaternary glasiofluvial formations. Water supply plants are organized only in Olonetz and in some large settlements. Usually, the single water wells and springs are applied for drinking water supply. Groundwater with high iron and radon contents are widely spread in region.

Martial Waters is the most known Russian resort where curative ferrous water is used. The highest Fe (II) content value reaches to 100 mg/l. The measured resources of groundwater are 15,6 m³/d. Measured resources of radon groundwater near Kostomuksha are estimated by 6 m³/d for therapeutical purposes. The radon content value reaches 4800 Bk/l in groundwater. Brackish groundwater in southern Karelia are curative waters without specific components. The measured resources of curative groundwater of Cl-Na type, which are situated near Olonetz, are 18,8 m³/d. Despite the low level of groundwater usage, there are preconditions for their wider involving in practice.

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