ANALYSIS OF THE WATER USE INDICATORS DYNAMICS IN THE REGIONS OF THE RUSSIA'S STEPPE ZONE
The article analyzes the use of water resources in the regions of the steppe zone of Russia. The main indicators characterizing water use are water withdrawal from natural water bodies, the use and treatment of water, and the discharge of wastewater. In the regions of the steppe zone, water consumption is carried out to a greater extent due to fresh water withdrawn from surface sources, 87.7 % of all produced water. Compared to 2010, a decrease in the use of fresh water by 8 % is observed in the studied mesoregion. A comparative analysis of water consumption was carried out, the structure of water use by region was presented. In the Kurgan region, this indicator is minimal; its highest values are noted in the Stavropol and Krasnodar territories. Map schemes are constructed that reflect the imbalances in the use of water resources between the southwestern and eastern steppe regions of Russia. The dynamics of wastewater discharges to surface water bodies of the regions for the period 2010-2018 is estimated, which resulted in a decrease of 15.7 %. Charts were constructed showing the dynamics and structure of water consumption and discharge of polluted wastewater in the steppe regions of Russia in 2010-2018. The largest increase in water consumption occurred in Belgorod and Voronezh regions. In the discharge of contaminated wastewater, there is a reduction in the volume of both polluted wastewater without treatment and insufficiently treated wastewater. In relation to 2010, a significant reduction in relevant indicators was noted in the Krasnodar Territory and Chelyabinsk Region. The analysis is carried out and a map of freshwater use by the population and the water consumption of the gross regional product is constructed.