The Day has repeatedly drawn attention to the problem of water pollution in Ukraine, specifically the kind of water that may be considered potable: tap water, artesian water, or bottled water. Another problem is water treatment methods and obsolete state standards for establishing the chemical and bacteriological composition of water.
Potable water is a big problem in Ukraine, and it is becoming more acute every year, especially in the industrialized southern and eastern regions, where everything — the atmosphere, ground, and water — is heavily polluted by industrial emissions. Oleksii KUCHERENKO, Minister of Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, recently announced that the next budget bill envisages 50 million hryvnias’ worth of funds to be channeled into the project Pytna voda (Drinking Water), which is aimed at improving the potable water situation in Ukraine. He discussed the project’s specifics withThe Day
According to preliminary information, the funds for this program will be channeled to the Crimea and Odesa and Donetsk oblasts. Why these areas, and what concrete measures will be introduced to improve the quality of potable water?
The problem of centralized water supply and water quality must become a national priority. This will be a painful and very complicated process. It takes billions of hryvnias of investments. It is difficult to earmark such funds in the budget now, but we have started working on this problem. I think we will submit a new reading of the Law of Ukraine “On Potable Water.” It was created in 2004, but it has never taken effect; it doesn’t work. It’s nonexistent.
Speaking of those 50 million, this money will be used primarily to resolve tactical tasks. Today 1.5 million Ukrainians consume water according to temporary authorizations; the quality of this water is below established standards. It is not just bad water — it is extremely bad. Every year these temporary authorizations are extended, and there seems to be no end to this process. We have estimated that we can solve the problem of drinking water for 400,000 citizens by using post-treatment systems. Let me stress that I mean potable water, not the public water supply, so that it will be safe for people in certain populated areas in the Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zhytomyr, and other oblasts to drink high-quality, post-treated water.
If this pilot project is successful — and we are convinced that it will be because some 200 facilities have already been installed in various areas in Ukraine and they are operating well — next year we will solve the drinking water issue in all problem territories in collaboration with local authorities.
As regards a serious, long-term investment program, I have mentioned that it takes billions of hryvnias. I think we will start financing it next year. We are drafting new proposals that are aimed not only at investments from the budget; there are not enough of them. We must also interest private companies and get them to finance the program to improve the quality of drinking water. The state will undertake to protect quality standards and tariff regulation, so that the water tariffs are realistic and economically feasible.
We are also working on drafting new water quality standards. In our view, two standards must be instituted. The first regards the public water supply and the second, drinking water. I believe that the Ministry of Health will support our initiative. We will discuss the matter with working teams. This doesn’t mean that our running water won’t be fit for drinking, but that our drinking water will be of better quality. I also think that its standard will match and even surpass the European standard.
Different plans will be proposed for different populated areas. You will agree that there should be one plan for a village, a different one for a district center, and a different one for a megalopolis. We’re working on this with local authorities. The main thing is that this model can be realistically built. But it is much more complicated to acquire tens or hundreds of billions of hryvnias’ worth of investments for our water supply networks.
Which domestic experts did you hire when you were developing the water quality program?
We are collaborating with the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, particularly with Academician Honcharuk from the Institute of Colloid Chemistry. He is a member of our Strategic Council. There are also other experts. This September we will submit to the Verkhovna Rada our vision of the phases of this program and central and local budget appropriations. I can also assure you that there is keen interest on the part of world investment structures, particularly the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. They are prepared to invest in such long-term projects, provided such projects are available and there is a tariff system. After all, investments have to be repaid, and the tariff policy must be geared to guarantee the recoupment of investments. Should anyone try to convince you that there is another model, regard this as populism and politicking.
Will the water supply networks be altered?
Let me explain our philosophy. The average person uses 330 liters of water every 24 hours, including three liters of drinking water. Let’s be realistic and make these three liters top quality. It may cost something, but not much. The budget will help with payments. This water will be of super quality, and we won’t have to spend tens and hundreds of billions of hryvnias on getting this quality of water supplied through the pipes. Ukraine cannot afford such staggering expenses. We will keep the quality of running water on a level fit for household needs. This logic is being applied by a number of European countries.
Considering that the world’s drinking water reserves are limited, water will be the next problem after oil and gas. Our innovative water purification system was developed and patented by Ukrainian scientists, and a number of countries, particularly Russia, are interested in it. During the investment forum at the summit in St. Petersburg, the Russians paid serious attention to this problem.
When will work on the project begin?
It has already begun. Now we are waiting for budget funds. We’re working on the project in every region, all the populated areas where there are temporary water- use authorizations. Naturally, this problem will be resolved where it is most acute.
