Main image: Construction of a new water supply system for Mykolaiv, 22 May 2025, photo: Daryna Melnychuk, NikVesti
According to the expert assessment, the cost of constructing the Mykolaiv water pipeline will be 6.2 billion hryvnias. This represents savings for the state budget, as the previous feasibility study estimated the cost at 8.7 billion hryvnias.
“Initially, according to the feasibility study, the water pipeline was expected to cost the state 8.7 billion hryvnias. Following the expert review, the project’s cost was reduced by 25%. Thanks to this comprehensive approach, we not only preserved the key parameters but also enhanced the technical equipment, while significantly lowering the cost. This is the result of systematic work on the project by the Recovery Agency team. Today, the water pipeline is 70% complete. This is an exceptionally fast pace for such a large infrastructure project, considering that actual construction began in January this year. By August, more than half a million residents of Mykolaiv will regain access to water for the first time since 2022. The saved funds will be requested from the Government to be used for other infrastructure projects in the water supply sector, particularly in regions where the situation remains critical,” said Oleksii Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for Recovery and Minister for Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine.
The project was made cheaper through in-depth analysis: several deficiencies were identified, addressed, and corrected. Additionally, important missing elements were added, ensuring a comprehensive approach.
“What did we add to the project? A new water intake station, protective structures, and shelters for workers. We planned an additional supply of 50,000 cubic meters of water per day for farmers to meet irrigation system needs. The project now includes frequency converters, backup generators at each pumping station, a fiber-optic system, and backup power lines… And with all these provisions, we managed to reduce the overall cost. The saved funds can be allocated to other facilities,” said Serhii Sukhomlyn, Head of the Recovery Agency.
One of the Agency’s priorities is the construction of water pipelines. It is crucial to first provide water to communities where the situation is critical due to destruction caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The funds saved on the Mykolaiv water pipeline project can be redirected to such facilities as the Tomakivka and Myrivska communities in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Bolhrad and Suvorov water pipelines in the Odessa region, and the reconstruction of the water intake site and networks in Lubny, Poltava region.
This will ensure water supply for approximately 100,000 more people.
Background
Actual construction of the water pipeline began in January, with over 70% of major work completed and actively ongoing. A total of 273 units of special equipment and 550 workers are involved.
The project will provide stable water supply to more than 500,000 residents of Mykolaiv, who have been without clean water since May 2022.
The pipeline capacity is planned as follows: 120,000 cubic meters per day for the population (second and third pumping stations), and 50,000 cubic meters per day for farmers to meet irrigation needs.
The facility is expected to be ready by summer: commissioning is planned for July, and by August, residents of Mykolaiv will have access to water again.
