Belarus

Belarus is a landlocked country in eastern Europe with a total area of 207,600 kilometers2. It is bordered in the northeast and east by the Russian Federation, in the southeast and south by Ukraine, in the southwest by Poland and in the northwest by Lithuania and Latvia. It declared its independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991. For administrative purposes, the country is divided into six provinces (oblasts). 

 

Belarus is part of the east European lowland, covered with young glacial formations, mainly gravel and sand. From the southwest to the northeast the moraine Belarus rampart, where several larger rivers rise, crosses the country. In the south is the vast, marshy land of Polesye. The peak of the highest hill is at 345 meters above sea level. 

 

The country can be divided into four main river basins: 

• The Dnieper basin. This basin covers about 81.5% of the country. The Dnieper River rises in the Russian Federation and enters Belarus in the northeast. Within the country it flows to the south and, after forming the border with Ukraine over some 100 km, it flows into Ukraine and finally the Black Sea. The largest tributary of the Dnieper within Belarus is the Pripyat, which rises in Ukraine, enters the country in the south, flows east and leaves the country again in the southeast to flow into the Dnieper within Ukraine. 
• The Western Dvina basin. This basin covers about 10% of the country. The Western Dvina River rises in the Russian Federation and flows into Belarus in the northeast. It then flows to the west and leaves the country in the northwest to flow into Latvia, where it is called the Daugava, flowing to the Baltic Sea. 
• The Neman basin. This basin covers about 6% of the country. Its main source is in the center of the country near the capital Minsk. It flows to the west and enters Lithuania, where it is called the Nemunas River, which flows to the Baltic Sea. The Vilija River, also rising in Belarus to the north of the Neman River, flows west into Lithuania, where it becomes the Neris River that flows into the Nemunas River. Some smaller tributaries rise in Poland and flow east into Belarus into the Neman River. 
• The Western Bug basin. This basin covers about 2.5% of the country in the southwest. The main Bug River rises in Ukraine, and forms the border, first between Ukraine and Poland and then between Belarus and Poland, before entering Poland. 

There are about 10,800 freshwater lakes with a total area of 1,600 km2, or 0.8% of the total area of the country, and a total capacity of 7.2 km3. The largest lake is Lake Naroch, with an area of 80 km2 and an average depth of 9 meters. There are also about 1,550 small and shallow natural ponds in the country with a total area of 350 km2 and a total capacity of 0.5 km3. 

 

There are 140 dams and tanks each with a capacity of at least 1 million m3, of which 89 have been built for irrigation purposes (Table 1). Their total capacity is estimated at 3.08 km3 and their total surface area about 880 km2. 

 

The gross theoretical hydropower potential of Belarus is estimated at 7,500 gigawatts/year (GW/yr), a third of which being economically feasible. Hydropower installed capacity is only 6 megawatt (MW), generating 0.06% of electricity of the country. 

Pure Aqua provides wide range of filtration and economical solutions based on the Belarus’ water resources.

Belarus’ main water resources are:

• Surface water is water from river, lake or fresh water wetland, which can be treated using different methods, such as Ultrafiltration Systems, Brackish Water RO.
• Desalination can be used for water from ocean, or sea source, which can be treated using Seawater Reverse Osmosis Systems; Desalination Systems.
• Ground Water or brackish water is from water located in the pore space of soil and rock “Borehole well”, which can be treated using Reverse Osmosis Systems, Chemical Dosing, UV Water Sterilizers.
• Government water supply, which could have high level of hardness or high level of chlorine, can be treated with Water Softener Systems, Media Water Filters.

Pure Aqua manufactures water treatment systems to Belarus that meet the World Health Organization requirements.