Innovative project: how the Danube can solve the water deficit problem in the south.

Ukraine seeks new sources of water supply due to the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydro Power Plant

Due to the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydro Power Plant and the local reservoir by Russia, Ukraine faces the threat of drought and water shortage. Therefore, the country needs to seek new sources of water supply, in particular, the pumping of part of the Danube's flow is being considered to provide water to the southern regions.

This opinion was expressed by the director of the Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, Mykhailo Yatsyuk, during the third international conference 'Water Resources of Ukraine: management strategy and modern solutions', reports Ukrinform.

'One of our concepts is the use of the Danube's flow. This issue was raised at the last NSDC meeting. Given the consequences of the war, in any case, the Danube is our only source that we can rely on. And pumping the flow will solve many water supply issues, primarily for southern Ukraine,' Yatsyuk noted.

The expert emphasized that this is not a hypothetical idea, but calculated options that need to be implemented.

'This is not an idea - it is a calculated option that needs to be implemented. We considered this even when the Kakhovka reservoir existed. We considered taking 10–15 cubic kilometers of water — this is only 10% of what is ecologically permissible. And pumping it into reservoirs for subsequent transportation - in particular, to southern Ukraine and more to the east,' he clarified.

The water supply strategy of Ukraine requires funding and political will

Yatsyuk noted that the use of the Danube's flow is not a temporary solution, but a strategy; however, its implementation requires funding and political will. The issue of water supply is already considered a matter of national security. 'Russia will continue to restrict us in water resources. This has already happened: recall the situation with the pollution of the Seim River. If this occurred on a larger scale, millions of residents of the capital could be left without water,' he noted.

The scientist also emphasized that climate change complicates the situation with water supply. The process of depleting groundwater resources and reducing rainfall infiltration worsens the water situation.

Yatsyuk urged to consider the problem of water deficit comprehensively, expressing the need for modernization of water management systems and reforms in water resource management.