Water is becoming scarcer in Ukraine, while its quality is deteriorating. Industry, agriculture, and the daily life of communities all depend on access to water. The state acknowledges the growing deficit and is moving toward stricter management of water resources, Ukraine’s Minister of Economy Oleksii Sobolev said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Humanitarian Media Hub reports.
“Water resources in Ukraine are shrinking, and decisions on their use must be based on accurate data and a balance between economic needs and environmental protection,” the official said.
Today, just over four billion cubic meters of water are withdrawn from surface sources. This is almost half the volume used in previous periods. Industry remains the main consumer. The share of the housing and utilities sector is smaller. Irrigation has declined severalfold. One of the key reasons is the war and the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant, which supplied water and irrigation to southern regions.
The government declares a shift in approach. Every cubic meter of water must be accounted for. Decisions should rely on facts rather than estimates. To achieve this, the state water cadastre for surface waters has been updated. Over the past year, more than eighty thousand water bodies across the country have been digitized.
Based on these data, a comprehensive water resource accounting system is being formed. It is needed for issuing permits, land management, community development planning, and reducing flood risks. The information is also used for fisheries management and spatial planning.
Ukraine is also strengthening its international water policy track. The country has joined the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and signed an agreement on the conservation of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. This opens access to partnerships in monitoring, research, and the restoration of marine resources.
At the same time, the government has approved an operational plan for implementing Ukraine’s Water Strategy until 2050 for the next three years. The document sets the framework for protecting surface, groundwater, and marine waters and for reducing water-related risks. The system for issuing permits for special water use is also being modernized. The review of applications will become faster and more transparent, while oversight will be stricter.
In the event of water shortages, priorities remain unchanged. The needs of the population and the environment come first. Other users will have to adapt to new restrictions and rules.
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