Between Protection and Use: the Problem of Water Protection in the Ussr in the 1960th–1970th

In this article, the author considers the process of implementing state policy in the field of use and protection of the country's water resources. In the context of active industrial and petrochemical construction, the state faced a kind of dilemma. On the one hand, the emergence and development of environmental legislation required the protection and rational use of the country's water resources. On the other hand, active production construction and the need to fulfill state plans put in the first place the commissioning of enterprises, and only then the construction of various treatment facilities. In this regard, the main purpose of the article is to analyze the problem of water use in the USSR in the 1960th-1970th.

As a methodological tool, the concept of environmental history was used, which considers the process of interaction between man and nature in a historical context. The source base of the study was the materials of the Russian State Archive of Economics: fund 436 (Ministry of Reclamation and Water Management), as well as fund 4375 (State Planning Committee).

It should be noted that the presented work has sufficient scientific novelty. The study of the peculiarities of the implementation of state policy in the field of the use of the country's water resources in domestic and foreign historiography has become widespread over the past few years. However, the work devoted to this issue is of a local nature, without comparative analysis with the general situation in the country. The proposed study is intended to fill that gap in part.

The author concludes that despite the adoption of environmental legislation and the strengthening of sanitary supervision of enterprises, economic interests were put above environmental consequences.

1. Barabanova K. S. Vodosnabzhenie Ostjako-Vogul'ska: pervye proekty vodoprovoda [Water supply Ostyako-Vogulsk: the first water supply projects] // Vestnik Surgutskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. 2022. № 6 (81). S. 64–70; (In Russian).

2. Borodavchenko I., Tolstihin O. Vodnye resursy: racional'noe ispol'zovanie i ohrana [Water Resources: Sustainable Use and Protection] // Kommunist. 1975. № 14. S.42–52; (In Russian).

3. Vinogradov A. V. «Vodjanye nedorazumenija»: nauka i gorodskoe samoupravlenie v bor'be s promyshlennym zagrjazneniem v pozdneimperskoj Rossii [«Water misunderstandings»: science and urban self-government in the fight against industrial pollution in late imperial Russia] // Nauka i tehnika: Voprosy istorii i teorii. Materialy XLIII Mezhdunarodnoj godichnoj nauchnoj konferencii Sankt-Peterburgskogo otdelenija Rossijskogo nacional'nogo komiteta po istorii i filosofii nauki i tehniki Rossijskoj akademii nauk. Sankt-Peterburg, 2022. S. 293–294; (In Russian).

4. Vinogradov A. V., Agafonova A. B., Mancerov I. I. «Pravo nebogatyh ljudej na neotravlennye vozduh i vodu»: gorodskoe samoupravlenie v bor'be s promyshlennym zagrjazneniem v pozdneimperskoj Rossii [«The right of poor people to unclean air and water»: city self-government in the fight against industrial pollution in late imperial Russia] // Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Istorija. 2022. № 79. S.34–43; (In Russian).

5. Vodnyj kodeks RSFSR. [Water Code of the RSFSR] URL: https://docs.cntd.ru/document/901700060?marker (Data obrashhenija 31.10.2023); (In Russian).

6. Gajdin S. T., Burmakina G. A. Istorija ispol'zovanija i ohrany rek v processe industrial'nogo razvitija Vostochnoj Sibiri v sovetskij period [History of the use and protection of rivers in the process of industrial development of Eastern Siberia in the Soviet period] // Vestnik Surgutskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. 2022. № 6 (81). S. 25–36; (In Russian).

7. Gololobov E. I. Antropogennoe vozdejstvie cheloveka na vodnye resursy Severa Zapadnoj Sibiri v period aktivnogo promyshlennogo osvoenija (1960–1975 gg.): na primere Surgutskogo Priob'ja [Anthropogenic human impact on the water resources of the North of Western Siberia during the period of active industrial development (1960–1975): on the example of Surgut Priobye] // Vestnik Naberezhnochelninskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta 2020. № 1(26). S. 28–33; (In Russian).

8. Gololobov E. I. Prostranstvo vody kak resurs i kak ugroza v istorii osvoenija Severa Zapadnoj Sibiri v XX veke. [The space of water as a resource and as a threat in the history of the development of the North of Western Siberia in the XX century] // Vestnik Surgutskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. № 6 (75). 2021. S. 79–92; (In Russian).

9. Doklad o proekte narodnohozjajstvennogo plana na 1976–1980 gg. po razdelu «Ohrana prirody i racional'noe ispol'zovanie prirodnyh resursov» [Report on the draft national economic plan for 1976– 1980 under the section «Nature protection and rational use of natural resources»]// RGAJe F. 4372. Op. 67. Ed. hr. 183; (In Russian).

10. Dokladnye zapiski i spravki Otdela ohrany vodnyh istochnikov rukovodstvu Goszemvodhoza SSSR [Memos and certificates of the Water Sources Protection Department to the management of the USSR Goszemvodkhoz] // RGAJe F. 436 Op. 1. Ed. hr. 41; (In Russian).

11. Dokumenty ob ispol'zovanii i ohrane vodnyh resursov SSSR (1960–1968 gody) [Documents on the use and protection of water resources of the USSR (1960–1968)] // Sovetskie arhivy.1977. № 6. S.81–92; (In Russian).

12. Zakon «Ob ohrane prirody v RSFSR». [Law «On Nature Protection in the RSFSR.»] URL: https://docs.cntd.ru/document/902066838 (Data obrashhenija 31.10.2023); (In Russian).

13. Krasovitova Je.S. Jekologicheskie problemy ispol'zovanija vodnyh resursov Severo-Zapadnoj Sibiri v 1960-h — 1980-h gg. [Environmental problems of the use of water resources of Northwest Siberia in the 1960s — 1980s.] // Vestnik Surgutskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. № 6 (63). 2019. S.20–28; (In Russian).

14. Makeeva E. D. Dejatel'nost' cheloveka kak prichina uhudshenija jekologicheskogo sostojanija reki Volgi v konce XIX — nachale XXI vv. (istoricheskij aspekt) [Human activity as a reason for the deterioration of the ecological state of the Volga River in the late XIX — early XXI centuries. (historical aspect)] // Vestnik Surgutskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. 2021. № 6 (75). S. 58–69; (In Russian).

15. Makeeva E. D. Malye reki srednego Povolzh'ja na fone industrial'nogo razvitija regiona v 1950-e — 1980-e gg. [Small rivers of the middle Volga region against the background of the industrial development of the region in the 1950s — 198] // Vestnik Surgutskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. 2022. № 6 (81). S. 37–45; (In Russian).

16. Materialy o merah po ohrane vodnyh resursov strany [Materials on measures to protect the country's water resources] // RGAJe F. 436. Op. 1. Ed. hr. 72; (In Russian).

17. Mostovenko M. S. Dejatel'nost' postojannyh komissij po ohrane prirody po zashhite vodnyh resursov Zapadnoj Sibiri v 1960-e — 1970-e gody (regional'nyj opyt HMAO i Omska) [Activities of the Standing Commissions for Nature Protection for the Protection of Water Resources of Western Siberia in the 1960s — 1970s (regional experience of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Omsk)] // Vestnik Surgutskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. 2022. № 6 (81). S. 46–57; (In Russian).

18. Nechiporuk D. M. Poslevoennoe velikoe uskorenie: industrial'noe osvoenie Sibiri i vosprijatie problemy zagrjaznenija vodnyh resursov v 1950–1970-e gg. [Post-war great acceleration: the industrial development of Siberia and the perception of the problem of water pollution in the 1950s and 1970s.] // Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Istorija. 2020. № 67. S. 26–32; (In Russian).

19. Obertrajz Ju., Malinova-Tziafeta O. Istorija gorodov i vodnye infrastruktury v Rossijskoj imperii i SSSR [History of cities and water infrastructure in the Russian Empire and the USSR] // Novejshaja istorija Rossii. 2019. № 1. T.9. S.173–201; (In Russian).

20. Osnovy vodnogo zakonodatel'stva Sojuza SSR i sojuznyh respublik. [Fundamentals of water legislation of the USSR and Union republics.] URL: https://docs.cntd.ru/document/9014803 (Data obrashhenija 31.10.2023); (In Russian).

21. Otchet otdela o vypolnenii zadanij Gosudarstvennogo plana na 1978 g. po razdelu «Ohrana prirody i racional'noe ispol'zovanie prirodnyh resursov» [Report of the department on the fulfillment of the tasks of the State Plan for 1978 under the section «Nature Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources»] // RGAJe F. 4372. Op. 67. Ed. hr. 2433; (In Russian).

22. Otchety i spravki sotrudnikov otdela o rezul'tatah komandirovok po izucheniju i proverke pravil'nosti ispol'zovanija i ohrane vodnyh istochnikov ot zagrjaznenija [Reports and reports of employees of the department on the results of business trips to study and check the correct use and protection of water sources from pollution] // RGAJe F. 436. Op.1. Ed. hr. 172; (In Russian).

23. Otchety i spravki sotrudnikov otdela o rezul'tatah komandirovok po izucheniju i proverke pravil'nosti ispol'zovanija i ohrane vodnyh istochnikov ot zagrjaznenija. [Reports and reports of employees of the department on the results of business trips to study and check the correct use and protection of water sources from pollution.] // RGAJe F. 436.Op. 1 Ed. hr. 173; (In Russian).

24. Poruchenija Soveta Ministrov SSSR i materialy po vypolneniju poruchenij [Instructions of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and materials on the execution of instructions] // RGAJe F. 436. Op. 2. Ed. hr. 1917; (In Russian).

25. Poruchenija Soveta Ministrov SSSR i materialy po vypolneniju poruchenij [Instructions of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and materials on the execution of instructions] // RGAJe F. 436. Op. 2. Ed. hr. 1920. (In Russian).

26. Prishhepa A. I. Problema chistoj vody v Surgute v 1950–1990 gg. [The problem of clean water in Surgut in 1950–1990.] // Severnyj region: nauka, obrazovanie, kul'tura. 2015. № 2–4 (32). S. 56–59.; (In Russian).

27. Spravki Otdela ohrany vodnyh istochnikov o sovremennom sostojanii ochistki stochnyh vod [Water Sources Protection Department certificates on the current state of wastewater treatment] // RGAJe F. 436. Op. 1. Ed. hr. 272. (In Russian).

28. Cincadze N. S. Gosudarstvennoe regulirovanie socioprirodnyh aspektov leso— i vodopol'zovanija v RSFSR v 1917–1939 godah [State regulation of socio-natural aspects of forest and water use in the RSFSR in 1917–1939] // Vestnik Rjazanskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta imeni S. A. Esenina. 2018. № 1(58). S.44–53; (In Russian).

29. Shmygleva A. V. Jekologicheskaja drama rek Ob'-Irtysh'ja [Environmental drama of the Ob-Irtyshya rivers] // Vestnik Surgutskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. 2021. № 6 (75). S.108–114; (In Russian).

30. Poruchenija Soveta Ministrov SSSR i materialy po vypolneniju poruchenij [Instructions of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and materials on the execution of instructions] // RGAJe F. 436. Op. 2. Ed. hr. 1917. (In Russian).

31. Otchet otdela o vypolnenii zadanij Gosudarstvennogo plana na 1978 g. po razdelu «Ohrana prirody i racional'noe ispol'zovanie prirodnyh resursov» [Report of the department on the fulfillment of the tasks of the State Plan for 1978 under the section «Nature Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources»] // RGAJe F. 4372. Op. 67. Ed. hr. 2433. (In Russian).

32. Doklad o proekte narodnohozjajstvennogo plana na 1976–1980 gg. po razdelu «Ohrana prirody i racional'noe ispol'zovanie prirodnyh resursov» [Report on the draft national economic plan for 1976– 1980 under the section «Nature protection and rational use of natural resources»]// RGAJe F. 4372. Op. 67. Ed. hr. 183. (In Russian).

33. Poruchenija Soveta Ministrov SSSR i materialy po vypolneniju poruchenij [Instructions of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and materials on the execution of instructions] // RGAJe F. 436. Op. 2. Ed. hr. 1920. (In Russian).