Ground Waters of the Ukrainian Polessje (Woodlands) after the Accident at Chernobyl Atomic Station

To conserve ground waters in the Ukrainian Polessje under the condition of their poor protection on large areas against any contamination, including radioactive, it was necessary to evaluate initial contamination of both the waters themselves and the soil surface after the accident at Chernobyl atomic station. Investigations carried out at hydrotechnical systems of Polessje showed that ground waters contamination with caesium-137 doesn't exceed 2.37 × 10³ Bq/m³, with strontium-90 being 8.88 × 10³. It should be noted that on the surface the caesium radionuclide storage is from 100 to 250 times greater than that in water. Recent influence of Rovenskaya and Khmelnitskaya (near Rovno and Khmelnitsky) atomic stations located on Polessje upon ground waters is extremely difficult to define against the background of the contamination after the accident at Chernobyl station. Soils all over the territory had weakened absorption capacity; that is why gravitational water solutions, even of low concentration, will reach the ground water table and will stay in water for a long period of time. However forecasts show that considerable penetration of radionuclides into ground waters shouldn't be expected: the activity will not exceed maximum allowable values. A network of observation wells will give regular information and control ground water cleanness.