BACK-UP GROUNDWATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS — A NECESSARY SAFEGUARD FOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTERS IN CONDITIONS OF MILITARY AGGRESSION

• Main Authors: ШЕВЧЕНКО, O.Л., КОНДРАТЮК, Є.І., ЧАРНИЙ, Д.В.
• Format: Article
• Language: Ukrainian
• Published: Institute of Geological Sciences, NAS of Ukraine 2022
• Subjects: централізовані та локальні водозабори; резервне водопостачання; підземні води; воєнна агресія; питна вода; водопідготовка; centralized and local water intakes; reserve water supply; groundwater; military aggression; drinking water; water treatment
• Online Access: http://geojournal.igs-nas.org.ua/article/view/255733

Many cities in Ukraine use surface centralized water intakes, connected to a single energy network, which are often located at a considerable distance (30-45 km) from settlements (for example, Mykolaiv, Chernivtsi, etc.), which makes the water supply system extremely vulnerable to military aggression and sabotage. Given Russia’s constant claims to our independence, it is clear that a guaranteed supply of drinking water to the population is as important a factor in its security as a strong modern army. Considering the existing means of emergency water supply and water treatment (imported water, mobile treatment plants designed to prepare existing water sources, pumping stations, etc.) we can conclude that the most secure and sustainable source of drinking water is groundwater. For better protection and access to water, even during street fights, it is proposed to equip local well water intakes with autonomous power supply, designed for 2.0-3.5 thousand users, with compact installations for water purification and disinfection. The organization of such a network has at least five problematic components: 1 — resource - the availability of the required amount of water, 2 — quality - the availability of drinking water sources; 3 — safety - sufficiently high protection of the water source from external influences; primarily from qualitative and quantitative depletion and targeted sabotage; 4 — financial and economic; 5 — energy supply. Separate water supply and sewerage networks for drinking and technical water should be introduced. The drinking water supply system should be arranged in the form of a well-protected local water supply, and domestic and technical water supply should be left centralized. Flow rates of drinking water intakes should be calculated based on human needs for drinking water per day: 1.5-2.0 dm3 for drinking plus 4-5 dm3 for cooking. It is proposed to use renewable energy sources for autonomous energy supply of boreholes. The experience of the Russian-Ukrainian war shows that all other options for drinking water supply to the population in conditions of military aggression are less protected, are unstable or temporary and have significant shortcomings.