The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant by Russians in June 2023 dealt a devastating blow to the infrastructure of Southern- and eastern Ukraine. Residents of the Dnipropetrovsk region immediately felt the consequences of this disaster when water disappeared from the surface intake canals, leaving settlements facing the threat of a large-scale humanitarian crisis. This was felt particularly acutely in the village of Velyka Dolyna, where only one or two boreholes with water towers were operational at the time, and their yield was critically insufficient to meet the needs of all residents.
“When Russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP in June 2023, water disappeared from our surface source canal, where we draw our water. At that moment, a critical issue arose regarding an alternative source,”says Dmytro Yanchenko, Director of the Water Utility.
To address this problem and create a reliable reserve for the entire Zelenodolsk community, specialists implemented a comprehensive engineering project. They drilled 5 new artesian boreholes, laid 3.8 km of new pipelines to connect them into a single network, and carried out a full range of electrical work to supply power to each facility. Thanks to this, the total daily extraction volume ranges from 1,200 to 1,400 cubic meters of water. This volume is sufficient to fully cover the needs of both the city of Zelenodolsk, with a population of around 12,000.
“When shelling begins, water supply disruptions occur. These boreholes serve as an alternative water supply source. Currently, water in the canal has been restored, but given ongoing events and the fact that Russians intentionally target water utilities and pumping stations, we want to be prepared for any scenario so that our people do not end up without water,”explains Dmytro, Director of the Water Utility.
“To prevent the city from being left completely without water, it was temporarily drawn from the Inhulets River. However, this required immense resources: the poor quality of the water demanded extensive treatment, and its long-distance transportation imposed excessive costs on the local budget. We aimed to create an alternative that would grant the community independence,”says Arsen Mirzoiev, WASH Department Specialist.
The main advantage of the new system lies in its flexibility and autonomy. By decision of the local authorities and the water utility, the boreholes can be used as the primary water source or in a hybrid mode—where artesian water is blended into the general system or used as a backup during emergencies on the main pipelines. Since all boreholes are connected to generators, they are capable of supplying water uninterruptedly even during prolonged power outages and blackouts.
This vital project was successfully implemented by DCA-NCA in Ukraine in partnership with the Charitable Organization “Angels of Salvation,” with financial support from Norad.
