Ukraine digitizes water accounting: why every cubic meter will be accounted for

Ukraine digitizes water accounting: why every cubic meter will be accounted for

According to ХВИЛЯ: In Ukraine, there is a reduction in water resources and deterioration of their quality, which threatens the industry and the agricultural sector. The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture initiates the digitization of water resource accounting to improve the management of these resources. According to Oleksiy Sobolev, a representative of the ministry, the country is currently experiencing a double pressure: there is less water, and its quality is deteriorating.

“Water is economic resource No.1,” he notes.

Currently, 4,074 million cubic meters of water are withdrawn from surface sources in Ukraine. Water consumption in different sectors looks as follows:

• 70.5% is used in industry;
• 22.1% - in housing and communal services;
• 4.2% - for irrigation.

However, irrigation has fallen by more than 10 times due to the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP, which has significantly affected the agricultural sector.

Goals of the new initiative

As part of the new initiative, more than 80,000 objects have already been entered into the updated state cadastre, including 60,000 water bodies and 19,000 rivers. The aim of the changes is to build a system where every cubic meter of water is accounted for, which should promote more efficient use of water resources and improve their quality. This is an important step in addressing the problems arising from the reduction of water resources in Ukraine.

The digitization of water accounting in Ukraine is a significant step towards ensuring sustainable management of water resources amid their reduction and deterioration in quality. The introduction of new accounting will allow not only for the preservation of water resources but also for their improved use in key sectors of the economy, such as industry and agriculture. The systematization of water resource data will become the basis for further development of environmental protection policies and the rational use of natural resources.