The Murmansk Region is part of the Russian Arctic enormously rich in diverse natural resources. The intensive development of the mining industry on the Kola Peninsula, the exploration and exploitation of new mineral reserves have augmented the pollution of surface waters in rivers and lakes with metals. The aim was to assess the quality of surface water ecosystems exposed to heavy anthropogenic pressure in the Murmansk Region. The analysis of the main physical and chemical parameters of surface waters revealed water bodies with both extremely high and low pH values, with low redox potential, and high salinity. The study of the spatial distribution of concentrations of a wide range of metals showed that Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Mn, Sr, Al, and Fe were the main pollutants of water bodies in the Kola Peninsula. Using statistical analysis
techniques were identified the pollutants characteristic for different areas, which require closer attention and further control. The assessment of the quality of surface waters and potential risks to human health led to the conclusions that Monchegorsk, Olenegorsk and Apatity areas were heavily polluted with metals, water toxicity in the areas is high, and the use of this water is fraught with a high risk of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. The results of this study will serve as a background for future environmental and health risk assessments, as well as for the development of an integrated set of actions for surface water quality management on the Kola Peninsula.