The Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure has published a draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers "On approval of the procedure for wastewater treatment in vulnerable zones".
The document establishes stricter requirements for wastewater treatment in eco-vulnerable zones, which will reduce the negative impact on the environment, as well as actions to improve the condition of such zones and the ecological situation in Ukraine, the Ministry of Infrastructure reports.
It is noted that the draft act will ensure the need for local self-government bodies to identify ecologically vulnerable water bodies and introduce stricter requirements for the quality of wastewater treatment in them. In addition, it fulfills the requirements of the Law "On drainage and wastewater treatment".
In the explanatory note, it was said that the main part of wastewater in settlements, both in Ukraine and in other countries, is generated from economic and household activities. However, a number of measures to reduce water consumption, in particular water saving by ordinary people, have led to an increase in the concentration of pollutants in wastewater that are produced by humans, including:
- organic substances;
- compounds of phosphorus and nitrogen;
- synthetic surfactants (SS).
It is emphasized that the main part of sewage treatment facilities in Ukraine was designed and built in the 60s and 80s of the last century. These technologies are already outdated and do not comply with the European Directive 91/271/EEC "On urban wastewater treatment".
Basic provisions of the draft act
The document proposes to approve the procedure for wastewater treatment before discharge in environmentally sensitive areas and provides for:
- settlement of the issue regarding the definition of the massif of surface water as a vulnerable zone;
- the need for a local self-government body to make a decision on the introduction or reconstruction of a centralized water drainage system and/or treatment facilities of centralized water drainage systems in settlements with a population equivalent of 10,000 or more (i.e. wastewater load with biodegradable organic substances with a five-day biochemical oxygen consumption of 60 grams per person per day) ;
- introduction of complete biological purification and additional purification from phosphorus and nitrogen compounds in such settlements before discharge into vulnerable zones;
- available technologies and equipment for the guaranteed achievement of the quality of wastewater treatment, which is required to allow their discharge in vulnerable areas.
"The adoption of the draft act will ensure the establishment of stricter requirements for wastewater treatment in ecologically vulnerable zones, will reduce the negative impact on the surrounding natural environment, which will realize the creation of favorable conditions for human life," the message says.
It is noted that the implementation of the project of the act will not affect the receipts and expenses of the state and local budgets.
Comments and suggestions can be sent until June 24, 2023 to the e-mail address o.koziichuk@mtu.gov.ua.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading and as a whole the government draft law No. 6478 "On sewage disposal of populated areas". The document will provide citizens with high-quality centralized and non-centralized drainage and reduce the negative impact of wastewater on the environment.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Water Strategy of Ukraine until 2050 and the operational plan for its implementation until 2024. The strategy is designed to solve the main water problems of the country.
