Ukraine's Water Supply Under Threat
Ukrainian intelligence reports indicate Russia is preparing strikes against the country's water supply system. In response, authorities are urgently seeking alternative water sources, focusing on underground reserves and securing backup power for pumping stations. Experts warn that while the network is extensive, localized damage could force the implementation of water rationing schedules. Targeting civilian water infrastructure is a tactic Russia has employed previously in this conflict.
The head of Ukraine's State Agency of Water Resources, Ihor Hopchak, stated that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already warned of potential attacks on water supplies. Hopchak confirmed,
"Yes, Russia is preparing a new wave [of attacks]; it will strike at infrastructure, logistics, and water supply."This concern is heightened by previous attacks on critical facilities, such as the destruction of the sluice gates at the Karachunivske Reservoir dam in Kryvyi Rih.
Former Deputy Environment Minister Mykhailo Khorev noted that the risk to water infrastructure is a long-standing and known threat. He emphasized,
"Strikes on water utilities are also possible,"which would severely impact supply. In the event of major damage, the situation could mirror past electricity blackouts, leading to scheduled water deliveries.
Securing Alternative Water Sources
Kyiv, for instance, draws from several surface and underground sources, providing a degree of resilience.
"It is not a single-site facility where one missile strike could bring everything to a halt,"Khorev said, confirming the system's distributed nature. Nevertheless, even with multiple sources, regional military administrations across Ukraine, including in the west, are holding meetings with water management officials to develop new contingency plans.
Large pumping stations that move water between regions require significant power, between three and six megawatts. Each backup power unit for such a station costs approximately 30 million Ukrainian hryvnias (UAH), with daily diesel consumption running to about 1 million UAH. Ihor Hopchak stressed that
"alternative power supply is possible, but it is a very costly undertaking."Consequently, various supply methods, including surface and groundwater flows, are under discussion.
All these measures are being taken to ensure stable water supply under the threat from Russia and to help avert critical situations in the future. The effort to protect water resources is a vital component of sustaining the population during wartime.