About the water sector in Ukraine
Ukraine’s 2050 water strategy approved (CMU OF 9/12/2022 NO. 1134-R) and Law of Ukraine on Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment (2887-IX, від 12/01/2023), however, they require the development of a number of regulatory documents, recommendations and new construction standards, as well as the harmonisation of legislation with EU requirements. In addition, a very important aspect is the participation/support of local communities in the development of a technical project for the placement of networks, technological regulations in the field of sewage, etc. And these are the documents necessary for practical implementation that we will receive as a result of the project.
Ukrvodokanalekologiya Association together with the Ministry of Communal Development, Territory and Infrastructure of Ukraine (which is coordinating the restoration), has developed an implementation plan for the Law of Ukraine “On Water Disposal”, defining a list of regulatory documents and applied scientific and technical developments to be developed, as well as other tasks.
In particular, it provides for analytical research and the development of science-based recommendations on
Guidelines for the development of schemes to optimise the operation of centralised water supply and sewerage systems
Programmes for technical upgrading of state and municipal wastewater collection and treatment systems for 2024-2034
Preparation of a new edition of the State Construction Standard DBN B.2.5-75:2013 “Sewerage. External networks and structures. Main design requirements”.
Development of a new version of the National Building Standard DBN B.2.5-74:2013 “Water supply. Outdoor networks and structures. Main design requirements”.
Development of a new version of the State Building Standard DBN B.2.5-64:2012 “Internal water supply and sewerage”.
Procedure for the development of technological regulations by centralised water supply companies
Calculation of the amount of wastewater that is discharged unregulated to centralised sewer systems.
Rules for accepting surface water into the surface water drainage system of a settlement
Method of primary measurement of wastewater entering centralised sewage systems
Procedure for the initial accounting of the quantities of sludge produced, treated, stored and reused
According to the Water Strategy:
In Ukraine (as of 2020)
Access to centralised water supply is available to 30.1% of rural settlements, 89.9% of urban settlements and 99.2% of towns.
The length of centralised water supply systems is 122,000 km, of which 38.2% are worn out or in disrepair. This leads to contamination of tap water and outbreaks of disease (nitrate poisoning in children, water-nitrate methaemoglobinaemia, hepatitis A, acute intestinal infections, etc.).
Provided with centralised water supply: 1.8% of rural settlements, 63.9% of urban settlements, 96.6% of towns.
41.9% of centralised wastewater systems are worn out or in disrepair.
In other words, there are virtually no sewage systems and treatment facilities in rural areas. This, combined with the lack of regulations for decentralised systems, has led to the widespread use of leaky pit latrines, which filter pollution directly into the ground.
Most wastewater treatment plants were designed and built in the 60s and 80s of the last century according to building codes and technological solutions that are now outdated. As a result, it is currently impossible to meet modern quality requirements for treated wastewater, both because of their physical and moral deterioration and the actual inadequacy of existing treatment technologies (the main bottleneck being sludge treatment).
As a result, water bodies are subject to significant anthropogenic pressures in the form of chemical, microbial, radionuclide and harmful biological and physical impacts.
In 2020, 9.6 cubic kilometres of fresh water will be abstracted from natural water bodies (90% from surface and 10% from underground sources). Every year, about 2,000,000 tonnes of pollutants are discharged into water bodies through wastewater.
In general, drinking water and wastewater transmission and distribution systems (water mains, collectors, distribution networks) in Ukraine have long been considered the most critical element of centralised water supply and sanitation systems.
The all-out aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the constant violation of the provisions of the Hague Convention by the aggressor and the deliberate destruction of infrastructure facilities have resulted in significant and sometimes irreparable damage to the critical infrastructure of centralised water supply and sanitation in cities.
Planned
By 2030
Connect 50% (by 2050 – 90%) of the rural population and 100% of the urban population to centralised water supply systems
By 2030
Ensure that 80% of the rural population (95% by 2050) and 100% of the urban population have access to adequate sanitation and preventive measures.
Assist territorial communities in developing long-term plans for the construction of centralised sewage and wastewater treatment systems
Phased repair or complete replacement (with modern polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride analogues that are neutral to chemical compounds and external corrosion) of municipal water supply and sewerage systems.
Ensure the regulatory and legal framework for private sector participation in the development of centralised water supply and sanitation.
Implementation of Directive 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on the quality of water intended for human consumption
Developing and approving environmental water quality standards for surface and groundwater bodies in accordance with EU legislation.
Carry out a systematic analysis of water legislation in terms of its consistency with the requirements of EU legislation and the objectives of sustainable development.
In settlements with a population equivalent of 2,000 or more, the introduction of centralised sewerage is mandatory, except as provided for in the first part of Article 18 of this Law.
It should also be borne in mind that Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, its persistent violation of international law and its deliberate destruction of critical civilian infrastructure has resulted in significant and sometimes irreversible damage to the critical infrastructure of centralised water supply and sanitation in cities, which will need to be fully restored.