Environment Minister: Preliminary agreements reached with donors to restore flow of Saksahan River, secure water supply for 1.4 mln Ukrainians
Ukraine has reached preliminary agreements with international donors to fund the restoration of flow in the Saksahan River and ensure water access for 1.4 million people, according to Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Hrynychuk.
The Ministry reported that Hrynychuk visited Dnipropetrovsk region, specifically the Kryvy Rih district, to assess the desiccation zone in the Saksahan River valley.
The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant dam by Russian forces and the subsequent need to use the river's water for the city of Kryvy Rih's supply have nearly drained the Makortove Reservoir. Its current volume is only 19.6 million cubic meters, compared to the normative 57.8 million cubic meters. In prolonged droughts, natural replenishment of the reservoir could take up to 10 years. The other two reservoirs on the river – Kresivske and Saksahanske – are under constant pressure from highly mineralized mine waters.
"One of the technical solutions we're working on involves supplying Dnipro River water from the Kamianske Reservoir via the Saksahan River channel. This will require building a new 30-kilometer pipeline, along with pumping stations and water intakes," Hrynychuk explained.
The project would allow for the replenishment of the Makortove Reservoir, improve water quality to meet the needs of local residents in the Saksahan River basin, and fill wells in rural households lacking centralized water supply.
While local communities prepare feasibility studies, the Ministry is negotiating with potential investors to implement the project.
"All of our partners have shown openness to dialogue and respond quickly to Ukraine's challenges. A great example is the completed project in the Devladove community in Kryvy Rih district," Hrynychuk said.
Following the Kakhovka disaster, UNDP Ukraine and the EU Foreign Policy Instrument (EU FPI) provided 40 water purification units and 15 water trucks to 22 communities, including Devladove, ensuring access to clean drinking water for over 139,000 residents. Each station consists of two mobile units capable of purifying over 5,000 liters of water per hour, including seawater. The equipment is solar-powered and can operate autonomously even during power outages. The 10 m³ tankers are used to transport purified water to remote settlements.
The Minister also met with community representatives to discuss urgent environmental issues and future water supply initiatives.
"I'm grateful to UNDP and all our international partners for implementing initiatives that make life easier for Ukrainians during the war. Our goal is to launch as many projects as possible to help each region of Ukraine cope with the challenges of Russian aggression and build a sustainable, environmentally secure future," Hrynychuk concluded.