Large-scale pollution of the Psel River occurred in Poltava region: details of the eco-catastrophe

Large-scale pollution of the Psel River occurred in Poltava region: details of the eco-catastrophe facebook.com/eugene.korf
Katerina Belousova

The filth continues to drift down the river

In the Poltava region, an emergency situation of a man-made nature occurred, namely, the pollution of the Psel River, probably by pig feces.

A mass plague of fish occurred in the river in the polluted area of about 35 km, and the trees on the banks began to dry, reports the State Agency of Land Reclamation and Fisheries.

The report emphasized that specialists conducted laboratory tests of water from the river. It turned out that it does not meet the requirements of sanitary standards in terms of microbiological and physicochemical indicators, in particular:

  • according to the content of lactose-positive rods – up to 12 thousand with a normative indicator of no more than 5 thousand;
  • according to the ammonia content – up to 3 mg/l with a normative indicator of no more than 2 mg/l;
  • fish – according to microbiological indicators.

darg.gov.ua

It is noted that fish guards together with specialists of the State Production and Consumer Service and concerned citizens collected and disposed of 380 kg of dead fish. They carry out measures to eliminate the consequences of water pollution, namely:

  • collect and dispose of the dead fish, in particular, sprinkle it with chlorine fiber, and disinfect the collection sites;
  • control the sale of fish in the markets of the Kremenchug district;
  • patrol the surrounding areas to limit the access of people and livestock to the reservoir.

"Giant dead pike on the coast of Psla. Yellow trees and acid green puddles near the river. And how it stinks there. It is simply beyond words. Horror! A catastrophe of a national scale – no exaggeration," wrote Yevhen Korf, deputy of the Poltava Regional Council, head of the environmental commission, on Facebook.

facebook.com/eugene.korf

He said that, according to preliminary information, the cause of the disaster was animal feces from the lagoon belonging to the pig farm. According to local residents, waste was recently taken to a small ravine near the river, but a downpour washed it away in Psel. Thus, three days after that, a small fish died in the river, and a few days later, a six-kilogram pike. The filth stain continues to drift down the river.

"Imagine how much poison is in the water that the pike couldn't stand," said Korf.

He added that the police are currently investigating.

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that in Chernihiv region, in the village of Makoshine, the sewage treatment facilities, which had been in a state of emergency for years and needed repair, broke through. Sewage has been flooding the community for more than a week.

Related
The Ukrainian government has approved 11 environmental documents: an overview of the key ones
The Ukrainian government has approved 11 environmental documents: an overview of the key ones

This concerns the update of the National Pollutant Emission Control Plan (NPEC), the biodiversity conservation strategy, and European standards for monitoring new pollutants

A river for the select few. The Ministry of Economy was unaware that the riverbank in Koncha-Zaspa had been cordoned off
A river for the select few. The Ministry of Economy was unaware that the riverbank in Koncha-Zaspa had been cordoned off

The fences surrounding these luxury properties are built right up to the water's edge

On the brink of extinction: which fish species in Ukraine could soon disappear
On the brink of extinction: which fish species in Ukraine could soon disappear

All the factors contributing to the decline in the population of these animals are man-made