The worst situation with water pollution is observed near the industrial centers along the Dnipro River and in the Azov Sea region – central Ukraine, in particular Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and the East.
This was stated in an interview with RBC-Ukraine by Leonid Bytsyura, a member of the Board of the Ukrainian Water Association and head of the Department of Ecology and Health at the Western Ukrainian National University.
Industry as the main source of pollution
The expert noted that deterioration in water quality is also observed near regional centers that stand on the Dnipro River, as water pollution is directly related to the proximity of large cities and industrial facilities. He named metallurgy and mining as the most harmful industries.
According to Leonid Bytsyura, the western regions are less affected by this factor on water resources. For example, Lviv region also has industrial zones, but not as large. In Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, and Khmelnytsky regions, there is point pollution of agricultural and domestic origin, while in Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, Kyiv, and Zhytomyr regions, there is more pronounced industrial pollution.
In eastern Ukraine, flooded mines are a particular problem. There are hostilities nearby, and in the absence of equipment and electricity, it is simply impossible to pump water out of them, the expert explained.
How agriculture contributes to the deterioration of water quality
According to the scientist, it is not only industrial facilities that pollute water resources. Agriculture also causes damage through the use of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and other plant protection products. All these compounds are washed into the soil and sooner or later end up in the water.
Leonid Bytsyura emphasized that in the agricultural sector, indigestible fertilizers are the biggest water pollutants. According to him, this process is not actually controlled in our country.
“The draft law on soil quality control is being blocked at the level of the Verkhovna Rada's Agricultural Committee. Unlike the environment, the agricultural sector has powerful lobbyists, including in the relevant parliamentary committee. So instead, control is exercised at the level of agricultural enterprises themselves, which means that they actually control themselves,” the expert says.
But the greatest damage to water is caused by pig farms and poultry farms.
Failure to comply with sanitary zones and coastal water protection zones also greatly affects the state of water bodies, says Leonid Bytsyura. He reminded that there are standards for the distance from the water's edge to arable land. But, according to the scientist, farms often plow land right next to water, and plant protection products and fertilizers end up there.
“First into surface water and then into groundwater,” the expert added.
Why water in the countryside can be worse than in the city
Another factor in water pollution is untreated or insufficiently treated municipal wastewater. The head of the department said that this problem can be especially relevant for rural communities, as there is less point pollution, but the density of pollution can be higher.
“So when they say: “Move from the city to the countryside, there is better ecology and better water,” this is not always the case. You need to understand the specifics of water in certain areas. What are the indicators of sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron. What is the alkalinity of the water, etc.” the expert explained.
In rural areas, there are also problems with wells. Leonid Bytsyura has seen many times that wells in villages are located near landfills, whether natural or organized. Water from such wells is not suitable for consumption.
Earlier, EcoPolitic reported that the Verkhovna Rada registered draft law No. 13201, which provides for the implementation of EU legislation on water protection from pollution.
