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AGROLOGY
AGROLOGY | Volume 4 | Issue 271
Environmental Risk Assessment
in the Masrik River Basin
M. A. Nalbandyan, A. O. Nersisyan
Instute of Geological Sciences Naonal Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Received: 16 March 2021
Revised: 18 March 2021
Accepted: 19 March 2021
Institute of Geological Sciences,
Marshal Baghramyan Ave., 24a, Yerevan,
0019, Republic of Armenia
Tel.: +37-41-052-44-26
E-mail: marinen3@yahoo.com
Cite this article: Nalbandyan, M. A.,
& Nersisyan, A. O. (2021). Environmental
risk assessment in the Masrik River Basin.
Agrology, 4(2), 71‒76. doi: 10.32819/021009
Abstract. The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental risks of water pollution
in the Masrik River catchment area. The risk assessment studies are based on the results of the
hydrochemical monitoring of the Masrik River Basin water quality in 2012‒2014. The main risk
factors for pollution of the river basin area are mining, agriculture, uncontrolled utility ows.
Zoning was performed and areas of zones were calculated using a digital elevation model (DEM)
in the ArcGIS software environment and taking into account sampling points and river basins. At
the same time, the territory was ranked by population density. Then a geodatabase (GDB) was
compiled. GDB presents the point assessments of the state of river waters according to the level of
the pollutant concentration factor and population density. The thematic layers based on the results
of the indicators in the ArcGIS program were compiled. A map was obtained according to a point
assessment of environmental risk. An integrated assessment of river water pollution was carried
out in different parts of the basin. The population density and total risk index were calculated. The
three risk zones were identied in the river basin: high, medium and low. In addition to presenting
theoretical value, the conclusions are also of practical importance and can be used in the develop-
ment of river basin risk management programs, measures for quality management and control of
pollution sources in the aread.
Keywords: environmental risk; river water quality; modeling and mapping.
ISSN 2617-6106 (print)
ISSN 2617-6114 (online)
Agrology, 4(2), 71‒76
doi: 10.32819/021009
Оriginal researches
Introduction
This article examines the area of the catchment of the Masrik
River with its tributaries, in order to assess the environmental risk of
river water pollution, taking into account the nature and volume of
negative impact on water quality, presented in a spatial representa-
tion. The main environmental problems of the region are the pollu-
tion of soils and river waters with heavy metals, the accumulation
of biogenic components in soils in the zones, the ow of untreated
municipal wastewater into the river. The pollution of natural envi-
ronments with heavy metals is associated with the mining activity
of the Sotk gold deposit in the catchment area. Meantime the accu-
mulation of nutrients in soils is mainly due to agricultural activity.
The Sotk gold ore deposit industrial zone is located in the
Gegharkunik region at the north ‒ eastern part of Sevan or 20 km
East of Vardenis, 2 km from the Sotk pass, at an absolute altitude of
2300‒2500 m. This area was known in antiquity, as evidenced by
numerous ancient workings and archaeological nds dating back
to the 11th century BC. This territory was re-discovered by a team
of geologists “Kavzolotorazvedka” in 1951 from mining point of
view. The deposit occupies a signicant area and located in the
zone of development of parallel tectonic faults and multiple cru-
shing of rocks, which bear signs of intense hydrothermal alteration
and chemical weathering processes, expressed in the oxidation and
replacement of rock-forming minerals with iron carbonate and hy-
droxides. The main ore controlling structure of the deposit is the
Sotk fault, which is traced for 20 km, of which 12 km in Armenia
(Sidorenko et al., 1974). Ore processing is carried out at the Ararat
mining plant, where the ore is delivered by train.
The reserves of pure gold at the deposit are estimated at more
than 120 tons. The ore eld has been in operation since 1976, and
since 2007 ‒ under the leadership of GeoProMining (Nature of Ar-
menia, 2006)
According to a number of studies, the waters of the Sotk and
Masrik rivers are distinguished by high concentrations of lead,
chromium, sulfate ions, nitrates (IV hazard class), phosphates (III
hazard class) and are caused by the inuence of uncontrolled waste-
water and technogenic impact of the Sotk deposit (Hambaryan &
Nalbandyan, 2015). Studies to assess the mobility of a number of
microcomponents in the soil and in the soil-plant system in the
catchment of the Masrik River with the main tributary, the Sotk Ri-
ver, revealed quite interesting patterns of the heavy metals migra-
tion. The analysis of trends and revealed patterns showed the pres-
ence of a high level of copper solubility in the soil, as well as a
signicant biological availability by plants. The tendency of low
solubility in soil was found for lead. Meantime lead ion exhibits
intermediate behavior in terms of bioavailability by plants. As for
nickel, both in the soil and in the transfer to plants, it exhibits the
lowest chemical activity (Nalbandyan & Saakov, 2019).
In a number of studies, when assessing the hydroecological state
of territories under the inuence of anthropogenic activity, special
attention is paid to the study of the role of anthropogenic factors in
the formation of extreme hydrological situations (Koronkevich et
al., 1995; Koronkevich & Barabanova, 2015) and forecasting ne-
gative hydroecological situations (Koronkevich & Zaitseva, 1992).
The hydroecological risk was estimated by the method of point as-
sessment using indicator of water quality, population density (in-
dicator of anthropogenic load) and gradations of the intensity of
the ecological situation in the studied territory (Reshetnyak et al.,
2017). The assessment of the hydroecological situation is important
for the strategy of river basin management is characterized with a
slightly different approach.
Five particular parameters of the state of the basins, characterizing
the ecological value of a given territory were as following: the coef-
cient of economic use of land, the degree of water pollution, the density
of the river network, the degree of land reclamation, the groundwa-
ter level. These parameters were summed up (Belov & Zotov, 2008).
This article goal was to assess the environmental risk of water
pollution in the Masrik river basin, through territorial zoning, as-
sessing the level of river pollution in the designated zones, taking
into account the nature of the distribution of the population in the
basin.
M. A. Nalbandyan, A. O. Nersisyan
Environmental risk assessment in the Masrik River Basin
72 AGROLOGY | Volume 4 | Issue 2
Material and methods
Hydrochemical studies are based on monitoring data covering 9
sampling points for 2012‒2014 (Fig.1).
The Masrik River is located in the southeastern part of Lake
Sevan (40°00'‒40°15'N, 45°3' ‒ 45°59'E). The sampling site net-
work includes Masrik River with main tributaries. The Masrik River
has the largest drainage basin (685 sq.km) among the 28 tributa-
ries of Lake Sevan. The source is located at an altitude of 2880 m,
and the mouth ‒ at 1901 m. It crosses an area of 45 km covering
three high-altitude climatic zones: a) cold mountainous; b) mode-
rate, with short, cool summers and cold winters; c) moderate, with
relatively dry, warm summers and cold winters. The gradient of the
river is 27%, the average ow is 3.42 m, the ow in the lower part of
the course is relatively stable throughout the year due to 78% of the
underground recharge (Vardanian, 2012). The shape of the valley
changes from V-shaped to U-shaped, then to a at valley (Asatryan
& Dallakyan, 2018).
The bed of the Masrik River in the mountainous conditions of
the basin has a oodless character, the oodplain is developed only
within its at course. On the longitudinal prole of watercourses, a
change in the types of channels is traced ‒ from mountain-rapids to
plain-meandering with pronounced rifts and stretches. The river has
a great erosional force. Changes in temperature and precipitation by
seasons and heights cause uneven runoff. One of the main phases
of the river's water regime is the spring ood. In summer, there is
a sharp decrease in runoff. The Sotk River (the main tributary of
the Masrik River) originates at the pass of the same name at alti-
tudes of about 2500 m. The catchment area of the river is 18.5 km2,
strongly dissected by deep V-shaped erosional and tectonic valleys.
The slopes of which are steep and covered with grassy vegetation
(Sidorenko et al., 1962). Due to the articial drainage of Lake Gilly,
which was located in the river basin, the Masrik River currently
ows into Lake Sevan along an articially dug channel. The river
ow is regulated. Water is used for irrigation. The river is fed main-
ly underground (78%). The highest water level (36% of the annu-
al runoff) was observed in spring (Krylova, 2010). Geologically,
Mesozoic intrusive rocks and alluvial formations covering them are
widespread: eluvial ‒ deluvial, technogenic and alluvial ‒ proluvial
deposits. They are represented by sandy-loamy, clastic and sandy
‒ gravel varieties of soils. The source of groundwater recharge is
atmospheric precipitation, the annual amount of which in the de-
scribed area is 500 mm, and evaporation is 250 mm (Hydrological
Atlas of Armenia, 1990). Methodologically, at the rst stage of the
study, on the basis of the previous study of the basin, those pollution
indicators that have a signicant contribution to this process were
identied and a database was compiled for these indicators. Further,
the river basin is divided into sub-districts, based on the territorial
characteristics of pollution. A comprehensive assessment of water
quality was carried out using selected indicators after ranking the
territory for each subarea at the appropriate sampling points relative
to the background concentrations of these quality indicators in the
Masrik river basin. Moreover, the background values are considered
the values of indicators characteristic of a watercourse devoid of
any anthropogenic impact. Concentration coefcients were calcu-
lated according to the method of geochemical assessment of surface
waters (Saet et al., 1982). As a result, the coefcients of the concen-
tration of pollutants in the waters of the river were obtained for the
corresponding monitoring points, taking into account the charac-
teristic of pollution. The zoning was performed and areas of zones
were calculated using a digital elevation model in the ArcGIS soft-
ware environment, taking into account sampling points and river
basins. At the same time, the territory was ranked using population
density data. These data were taken from reports on the website
of the Statistical Committee of RA (Statistical Committee of the
Republic of Armenia, 2021). The population density was calculated
from the data on the areas of the zones and the population size.
Then a geodatabase (GDB) was compiled, which presents the point
assessments of the state of river waters according to the level of the
pollutant concentration factor and population density.
The thematic layers based on the results of the indicators in the
ArcGIS program, were compiled on the basis of which a map was
obtained according to a point of environmental risk assessment.
The nal score, reecting the environmental risk, was deter-
mined by the formula (Zakrutkin et al., 2014):
, (1)
where: Bs ‒ a score of environmental risk;
B1 ‒ is an assessment of the state of river waters according to
the level of the pollutant concentration factor;
B2 – point estimate of population density.
Results
According to calculations for determination of the concentra-
tion coefcients for the considered heavy metals and basic ions, the
total and averaged coefcients were obtained for each identied
subarea of the catchment (Table 1).
Compared to other monitoring points, relatively high values of
nickel, lead, copper and zinc are observed in points 1 and 2, which
Fig. 1. Map of the Masrik River Basin and Sampling Locations
Sampling points: 1. Sotk River ‒ near gold ore deposit; 2. Sotk
River ‒ 1.5 km after the deposit, downstream; 3. Sotk river ‒ after
the deposit, the rst bridge; 4. Sotk river ‒ agricultural territory;
5. Left tributary of the Masrik-Aziz River, under the bridge; 6. Mas-
rik River ‒ near the village of Shatvan; 7. Masrik River ‒ near the
village. Metz Masrik; 8 Masrik River ‒ to Ghilli Bridge; 9. Masrik
River ‒ after Gilly Bridge
M. A. Nalbandyan, A. O. Nersisyan
Environmental risk assessment in the Masrik River Basin
AGROLOGY | Volume 4 | Issue 2 73
Moni-
toring
points
1
КС
2
КС
3
КС
4
КС
5 6
КС
7
КС
8
КС
9
КС
Back-
ground
data
Cu 0.4 0.6 2.3 3.7 0.6 1 0.5 0.9 1 0.8 1.35 0.7 1.16 0.7 1.22 0.7 1.16 0.6
Zn 0.7 1.38 2.0 4.25 0.4 1 0.2 0.5 1 3.5 7.47 5.1 11.22 0.6 1.17 2.8 5.96 0.5
Pb 1.5 2.86 0.6 1.05 0.7 1.21 0.7 1.22 1 0.6 1.14 0.5 1 0.7 1.21 0.7 1.27 0.6
Cd 0.2 1.87 0.2 2.5 0.1 1.25 0.1 1.25 1 0.1 1 0.2 1.87 0.1 1.62 0.1 1.62 0.1
Ni 6.8 6.7 9.0 9 5.0 5 0.1 0.1 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 5.0 5 3.0 3 0.0
Na+8.2 2.04 9.4 2.34 9.7 2.42 10.2 2.53 1 6.1 1.52 8.2 2.039 8.7 2.15 9.9 2.46 4.0
K+1.7 1.06 1.8 1.1 1.7 1.03 2.0 1.19 1 1.4 0.86 2.6 1.59 3.0 1.87 2.9 1.78 1.7
Ca2+ 44.5 4.23 48.7 4.63 46 4.38 44.0 4.18 1 20.5 1.95 35.9 3.41 27.0 2.56 26.4 2.51 10.5
Mg2+ 26.4 6.47 32.5 7.97 25 6.17 22.3 5.46 1 4.8 0.46 10.5 2.58 8.6 2.1 8.7 2.13 4.1
Cl-10.9 4.93 10.7 4.82 9.1 4.11 8.1 3.64 1 2.8 1.28 6.4 2.87 5.5 2.46 5.2 2.36 2.2
NO3- 6.3 7 6.9 7 6.8 7 4.0 4 1 1.3 1 6.3 6 4.5 4 5.7 6 1.0
sum 39.14 48.36 34.57 24.97 18.03 33.74 25.36 30.25
Average
for each
point
3.56 4.39 3.14 2.27 1 1.64 3.07 2.3 2.75
Table 1. Coefcients of excess of concentrations of chemical elements and compounds in river waters over background values
M. A. Nalbandyan, A. O. Nersisyan
Environmental risk assessment in the Masrik River Basin
74 AGROLOGY | Volume 4 | Issue 2
is due to the inuence of the Sotsk deposit. The pollution is local,
weakly expressed. The values of the calculated concentration co-
efcients for zinc decrease towards the monitoring point number 7
and signicantly increase at points 8 and 9, which may be caused
by the inuence of lowland type peat from Lake Gilly. According
to literary sources, low-lying peats are characterized by a high zinc
content in the surface layer (Mining encyclopedia, 2021).
Lead is characterized by relatively high values at point 1 near
the Sotk gold deposit and a tendency of decreasing coefcients from
the source of this river to the Masrik mouth. Already in point 2, the
value of the coefcient decreases, since lead, in view of the peculi-
arities of its chemical behavior in water, is adsorbed, binds, settling
and forming hard-to-dissolve salts. Consequently, for this metal in
the upper reaches of the river, there is a dependence on the anthro-
pogenic factor of an industrial nature, which does not manifest itself
in the lower reaches of the Sotk River and does not affect the quality
of water in the river basin as a whole.
The value of the sodium ion concentration coefcient at all
monitoring points is almost the same, with the exception of point
4, which is located within the agricultural lands and in the zone
of their impact, as indicated by the maximum value of the coef-
cient among all points. At point 6, a sharp decrease in the coefcient
is observed, which is associated with the conuence of a left-side
tributary in this section into the river, which is not subject to any
economic inuences.
The conuence of the inow leads to an increase in the water
discharge in this area and, in conditions of relatively low concentra-
tions of the ion in the water, leads to a sharp decrease in the value of
the coefcient. In the last two points, relatively high ion contents are
observed, which is due to the presence of residual peats of the Gilly
wetland lake, which belongs to the lowland type (Vardanyan, 1961)
and whose peats are distinguished by a higher sodium content and
its accumulation in the surface layer.
The potassium ion is characterized by relatively equal values of
the coefcient throughout the entire river watercourse with a slight
increase towards the river mouth, which is probably associated with
the inuence of municipal and agricultural ows into the river. In
point 6, the same tendency is observed for potassium as was found
for sodium.
In the direction from the source to the mouth, calcium, magnesi-
um and chlorine tend to decrease in concentrations in water, which
is probably due to the formation of salt formation of poorly soluble
compounds, in particular, chlorides. Sampling point 6 is highlighted
by the minimum values of the coefcient for these ions. Considering
the data in points 8 and 9 in comparison, we notice the proximity
of the values of chemical elements in these points, which is due to
the specic conditions of the Gilly wetland lake located here in the
past and low-lying peat soils (Agriculture from “A” to “Z”, 2013).
Summarizing the revealed patterns of dynamic changes in
chemical parameters throughout the basin of the Masrik River with
tributaries and taking them as the basis, we distinguish the follo-
wing subareas:
a) including the rst 3 monitoring points, characterized mainly
by natural features with a manifested anthropogenic inuence of the
Sotk deposit in the river catchment area;
b) including monitoring points 4, 5, 6 and 7 characterized by the
inuence of the agricultural factor in the conditions of the inow
into the main river, which has a natural quality characteristic of wa-
ter with low mineralization;
c) including monitoring points 8 and 9, characterized by specic
landscape conditions, low peat soils3 and corresponding geochem-
ical conditions.
As a result the corresponding risk zones were formed (table 2,
Fig. 2).
According to the calculation of the environmental risk score, the
total index for the rst zone was 9, for the second zone 6.4 and for
the third ‒ 15.9. Zones of environmental risk of water pollution in
the Masrik River are shown after mapping as well (Fig. 2).
The rst zone is characterized by a relatively average indica-
tor of population density, a high indicator of water pollution and a
relatively high total indicator of risk. On the basis of a comparative
analysis of all risk factors within the zone, it was revealed that a
high indicator for the rst zone is mainly due to industrial pollution.
The risk is assessed as medium. The second zone is characterized
by a low population density, a relatively low level of water pollu-
tion and, accordingly, a low total risk index. The current picture is
due to the conuence of the left-bank tributary of the Masrik River,
which, being devoid of any anthropogenic impact, is also characte-
rized by low mineralization. As a result, due to the additional vol-
ume of water, the river ow in this area increases, and even if there
Zones Density of the population Pollution level Total index
I 22 3.69 9
II 15 2.72 6.4
III 94 2.68 15.9
Table 2. Calculation of the environmental risk score
Fig. 2. Zones of environmental risk of water pollution
in the Masrik River
M. A. Nalbandyan, A. O. Nersisyan
Environmental risk assessment in the Masrik River Basin
AGROLOGY | Volume 4 | Issue 2 75
is an agricultural risk factor (use of chemical fertilizers) in the zone,
the level of the total environmental risk does not pose a serious dan-
ger. The vulnerability of this section of the river is minimal. Thus,
the second zone has a low environmental risk. The rst zone includ-
ed three sampling points. The second zone covered four subsequent
sampling points. The third area included the last two monitoring
sampling points. The third zone is characterized by a high coef-
cient of population density, although the nature of pollution is not
very toxic. At the same time it contributes to the formation of the
maximum total risk index among the calculated three zones. Thus,
a high risk of contamination is inherent in this area. Taking into
account the fact that the high risk is due to the density of the popu-
lation in the zone, it can be concluded that it is necessary to develop
appropriate measures for the management of untreated municipal
wastewater in the river basin, which is the main source of pollution.
Discussion
The characteristic of trends in concentration factors (excess over
background concentrations) of chemical indicators of water quality
in the Sotk - Masrik catchment was used as a justication for divi-
ding the catchment into sub-regions. As a result of the assessment
of natural conditions and factors of anthropogenic inuence for sol-
ving the problem, the Masrik river basin was divided into 3 zones.
The considered dynamic trends made it possible to reveal the
commonality of factors in the formation of water quality for indi-
vidual areas of the catchment area and formed the basis for the rank-
ing of the river catchment basin.
Heavy metals in rivers originate from multiple sources such as
weathering, industrial and domestic efuents, fertilizers etc. One of
the most important contributors to metal pollution of river basins is
(historic) mining activities. Acid-mine drainage, produced by the
oxidation of geological layers rich in pyrite, forms the most impor-
tant source (Fo¨rstner & Wittmann, 1983).
Heavy metal pollution in mining regions is widespread and
can be studied by relatively simple analysis and has therefore been
the subject of investigation in many rivers in the world (Farag et
al., 1997; Velde & Leuven, 1999; Sheykhi & Moore, 2012), which
demonstrated high concentrations of copper, lead, zinc, nickel in
river water.
The results of some investigations regarding the water quality
assessment suggested ю that tributaries were affected by local mi-
ning activity. Both natural weathering and mining contribute HMs.
Cr and Ni were homologous with a source from the weathering of
basic gabbro and serpentine at Yushigou. Mn appeared to be inu-
enced more by articial activities such as agriculture and grazing.
Depending on the mining technique involved, two pathways for the
release of HMs were distinguished in this area. For open-pit mining,
mining promoted the release of HMs primarily via enhanced wea-
thering (Wenhao et al., 2018).
According to the similar investigations with negative impact of
untreated domestic and industrial wastewater, loss of the capacity
for self-purication, due to prolonged and excessive discharge of
contaminated or insufciently puried wastewater, inevitably lead
to contamination of aquatic ecosystems of surface reservoirs of Dni-
propetrovsk region (Kulikova et al., 2018). Some studies conrm
the possibility of using not only GIS, but also remote sensing me-
thods, for environmental assessment of the surface water quality
state. Investigations of the state of the water bodies of the Dnipro
river tributaries show they varies considerably (Kharytonov et al.,
2018; Kharytonov et al., 2019) The similar tendencies of different
level of pollution and environment risk in river catchment observed
in our investigations as well.
Conclusion
The purpose of this study was to assess the environmental risk
of water pollution in the Masrik River basin. Among the sources
and pollution factors taken into account, in addition to natural and
anthropogenic ones, population density was also considered as a
demographic indicator calculated for each specic area of the catch-
ment area. As a result, using GIS technologies, a map of separate
subareas of the basin was obtained, reecting the level of environ-
mental risk in its respective 3 zones. According to the studies, it can
be concluded that environmental risk factors are diverse in nature
and degree of impact on water quality and are unevenly distributed
over the basin. A high dependence of the ecological risk on the po-
pulation density in the lower reaches of the river was found. The
low value and instability of the environmental risk in the middle
reaches are due to an increase in runoff due to lateral tributaries and,
at the same time, high variability of water discharge in tributaries
during a hydrological year. In addition to the theoretical importance,
the results are also of practical importance in terms of their use-
fulness and application in risk management programs in the basin,
measures to control the quality of pollution sources.
Acknowledgments
This study made throughout the basin of the Masrik River car-
ried out within the framework of the institute's budget program, sup-
ported by Science Committee of the Republic of Armenia.
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