ANALYSIS OF THE LEVEL AND QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLY STRATEGIES FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGIONS OF THE LOWER DON BASIN

The effectiveness and validity of regional strategy processes are to a significant extent determined by the results of analysis and accounting of available resources. The systematic deterioration of the environmental situation in the Russian Federation and the growth in the consumption of natural resources and the exploitation of natural objects raise the issues of objective and qualitative assessment of the degree of resources availability in the franes of existing regional development strategies. The most acute problem for the world as a whole is the shortage of water resources, especially fresh water. This is due to the fact that the world’s water consumption is increasing every day, and their use is extensive. Todate, the shortage of fresh water is a limiting factor in the economic growth of a large number of countries. The purpose of the paper is to compare the strategic tasks facing the regions included in the Lower Don basin system with the possibilities of their resource provision in terms of the volume and quality of available water resources. The research methodology is based on the theories of regional economy and regional management, resource-oriented approach to water management, rational water use. It has been found that the long-term planning of the development of the country’s regions takes place without assessing the required amount of natural resources and their quality characteristics, the main objectives of regional strategy of the studied areas, requiring an increase in the volume of use or load on water resources and facilities. Monitoring of the quality of water bodies in the Lower Don basin reveals the unsatisfactory conditions. The conclusion is made about the low level of water availability and the existing shortage of water resources with their poor quality.