Surface Water Chemistry in the Kucherla River Basin, the Altai Mountains

The concentrations of the soluble forms of 41 elements were determined by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) along with pH, Eh, and total dissolved solids in water of lakes and streams in the Kucherla River basin. The abundant rains, which enhance water exchange, along with meltwater from glaciers and snowfields are the governing factors in the dynamics of physicochemical characteristics. The rivers and lakes examined in the Kucherla basin show concentrations of Al, Fe, and Zn in excess of MACs of hazardous substances for water bodies used for fishery and the MACs for Al and Sb introduced for drinking water.