Head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Kim announced that starting October 7 water in Mykolaiv’s municipal system is now fully supplied from a new source through a newly built water pipeline.
He stated this during a briefing.
“From October 7, the old source is completely disconnected, and the new one — for which the pipeline was designed — is now in operation. The water quality will gradually improve, though it is not yet suitable for drinking. Currently, three laboratories are studying its characteristics. We will inform you once the water quality noticeably improves. After three years of waiting, I think we can wait a bit longer,” Kim said.
As of today, the construction of the pipeline has been fully completed — a total of about 136 km laid in two parallel lines of 67.9 km each. Pumping stations are operational, while landscaping and road restoration works around the site are ongoing. All tenders for electricity supply have been finalized, and the necessary contracts signed to ensure the stable operation of the pipeline.
The first 5,000 cubic meters of water reached the city’s systems and reservoirs in late August. Over the following weeks, specialists gradually conducted test filling of the network according to all technological standards. The water pumping allowed checking the system’s condition and preventing potential damage.
“After the Russians blew up the key main water pipeline, more than half a million residents of Mykolaiv were left without a permanent water supply. To restore access to fresh water, the Ministry and the Recovery Agency carried out complex, large-scale work in record time. Today, water is once again reaching consumers, and Mykolaiv residents have stable and reliable water supply. The new water pipeline was built according to all safety and reliability standards. The pumping stations are protected from shelling, power lines are laid underground, there are shelters for staff, backup generators, and modern equipment to keep the system running even in emergency conditions,” said Oleksii Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities and Territories Development.
The Mykolaiv water pipeline is one of the largest and most strategically important infrastructure projects of national significance. Its construction became an example of an integrated approach, efficient use of funds, and rapid implementation.
The current construction cost of the pipeline amounts to UAH 6.3 billion including additional works, down from the original estimate of UAH 8.7 billion. According to the Recovery Agency’s review, the project’s cost was reduced by 25%.
The saved funds will be directed to other vital water supply projects — including new pipelines for the Myrivska and Tomakivska communities in Dnipropetrovsk region, Bolhrad and Suvorov water systems in Odessa region, and pipelines in Lubny (Poltava region) and Vapnyarka (Vinnytsia region). These projects will provide stable water supply for over 180,000 people across 127 settlements
