War in Ukraine threatening country’s critical water resources and infrastructure

According to the United Nations, since the invasion began early last year, the number of Ukrainian civilians whose water supplies have been affected by the conflict has reached some 16 million people — and is only continuing to increase, with implications for public health.

The researchers found that these water shortages are being caused not only by direct attacks on water pipelines, channels, pumping stations, and treatment plants but also by the fact that Ukraine’s water infrastructure is heavily dependent on the nation’s power supplies, which have also been heavily disrupted by the war.

Dr Shumilova said: “In my home city of Mykolayiv — home to half-a-million residents before the war — water is in the news almost every day.

“A 90-kilometre [56-mile] pipeline that transported water from the Dnieper River was damaged in April 2022. There was no tap water for more than a month.

“Later, water was supplied from an alternative source, with frequent interruptions, but even after treatment, it is not safe to drink.

“Every day, you see long queues of people with plastic bottles, waiting for water.”

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1742258/ukraine-war-water-resources-infrastructure-supply-dam-environment