Fish kill and ammonia smell prompt Yagodnoye Lake probe

In the Kstovsky District of Nizhny Novgorod Region, an investigation is underway over pollution of Yagodnoye Lake. The incident was discovered by residents of the village of Malaya Yelnya, who reported mass fish die-off and a sharp smell of ammonia.

«Dead poisoned fish are being eaten by birds. Water from the lake flows into the Artyomovskiye Luga (Artyomovsky Meadows),» the residents wrote on social media.

On 20 July, employees of the Ministry of Ecology arrived at the site. They inspected the water body and adjacent areas, and took water samples from the lake and an unnamed stream that flows into it.

«During the inspection, dead fish were found along the shoreline. The water emitted a musty odor reminiscent of sewage. In the stream, the smell was noticeably stronger, and the channel was swampy in places,» the ministry noted.

Preliminary findings indicate that the pollution began in the stream and then entered the lake. No signs of accidents in the sewer networks were found. According to ecologists, the cause could be an unauthorized discharge of wastewater from vehicles.

Results of laboratory tests of water samples are pending. At the conclusion of the investigation, measures will be taken in accordance with the law.

Separately, the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor) conducted an unscheduled inspection of the Nizhny Novgorod Aeration Station and once again identified environmental violations. The company United Municipal Operator (Obyedinenny Kommunalny Operator) was issued a new order.