Prospects of alternative water supply for the population of Ukraine during wartime and post-war reconstruction

ABSTRACT

Russia is using water supply as a weapon. Ukraine’s water infrastructure is being systematically destroyed. To date, Ukraine has lost almost a third of its accumulated fresh water reserves (approximately 19 km³) worth over $US18 billion, and damage to canals, pipelines, pumping stations and water supply systems has left more than 5 million people without drinking water. The loss of hydrostatic pressure in the Kakhovka Reservoir changes storage and flow in aquifers and surface waters, as well as water intake structures. We review the main elements of the structure of water supply, water distribution, and wastewater discharge within Ukraine’s river basins, and substantiate the prospects and technological solutions for the construction of wells to provide water from underground sources.

KEYWORDS:

• Water supply
• water quality
• distribution
• groundwater

Acknowledgments

The work was carried out within the framework of the theme No.0123U101745 (Hydrogeological and technological justification of alternative water supply for the population of Ukraine during the period of martial law and post-war recovery), funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine [No.0123U101745].