Stench and fish kill at Yagodnoye Lake spark probe

Regional Ministry of Ecology is conducting an inspection due to pollution of Lake Yagodnoye in the Kstovsky District. Residents reported a mass fish kill in the water body and an unpleasant odor.

The lake is located near the village of Malaya Yelnya. On social media, residents said there is a smell of ammonia near the water body.

«Dead poisoned fish are being eaten by birds. Water from the lake flows into the Artyomovskye luga (meadows),» write residents of Kstovo.

The previous day, July 20, ministry staff arrived and inspected the lake and adjacent areas. Specialists took water samples from the lake and an unnamed stream that flows into it.

«During the inspection, specialists recorded dead fish along the shoreline. A musty smell reminiscent of sewage emanates from the water. When examining the unnamed stream, the smell was significantly stronger, and in places the stream is swampy,» said representatives of the agency.

According to preliminary data, the pollution initially occurred in the stream, then spread to the lake. To rule out accidents on sewer networks, specialists inspected adjacent areas. No signs of accidental spills were found.

As the ministry notes, preliminary data indicate the pollution may have resulted from the illegal discharge of wastewater from vehicles.

Specialists are awaiting the results of laboratory tests of water samples. Based on the inspection results, appropriate measures will be taken under current legislation.

Earlier, we reported that Rosprirodnadzor (Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources) conducted another unscheduled inspection at the Nizhny Novgorod aeration station and again found environmental violations. The United Municipal Operator (OKO) was issued a new directive.