Ukraine/water

Turnaround of Ukraine’s Water Sector towards an Efficient, Sustainable, and Economically Viable Water Sector (Drinking Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment).

Country data:
Population: 46 million people
Extension: 603,628 km²
(Approximately 66.2 times larger than Denmark)

The Challenges Facing Ukraine

Ukraine’s water sector faces significant challenges from outdated infrastructure, critical water losses, staffing shortages, and chronic underfunding. With 70% of its infrastructure over 30 years old, the country's water supply and sanitation systems suffer from severe depreciation, limiting their efficiency and sustainability. Technical water losses reach an alarming 40–50%, undermining water conservation efforts and increasing operational costs. Additionally, the sector struggles with a lack of qualified professionals due to low sector attractiveness, while insufficient budget allocations hinder modernization and maintenance efforts.

The situation is exacerbated by destruction of the utility assets of the Russian full scala invasion of the country, and the direct peril to the population from lack of water and pollution. The sector faces a significant challenge in securing access to drinking water for the next generations, and reducing pollution from waste water. Addressing these challenges is essential to secure Ukraine’s water resources and aquatic environment, secure access to water for its population, harmonizing its sector with EU standards, and fostering long-term sustainability.

The transition to a modern, green, and sustainable utility service, the strengthening of the national legislative framework to encourage investment and attract private capital, and raising public awareness of water as a scarce resource, are key elements in Ukraine’s water sector reform. These efforts aim to ensure universal access to drinking water and a sustainable utility sector, which plays an important role in the country’s integration with the European Union.

The Danish-Ukrainian Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) on Water and Environment aims to strengthen governance and sustainability within Ukraine’s water sector. The project focuses on improved regulation, resource management, and alignment with EU directives, norms, and standards. By enhancing governance frameworks, operational efficiency, and financial models, the initiative aspires to build a resilient and sustainable water management system in Ukraine, ensuring access to safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment.

Main Areas of Intervention and Expected Results

Water Resources: Groundwater Management

• Exploration of groundwater resources and data enhancement to establish groundwater as a strategic drinking water resource.
• Support in the development of a national strategy for protection of the groundwater resource, integrated into Ukraine’s River Basin Management Plans.
• Steps towards digitalization of Ukraine’s groundwater database, inspired by Denmark’s Jupiter database.
• Technical guidelines for groundwater protection, including EU-aligned sanitary areas.
• Introduction of well construction standards, licensing for drilling operators, and advanced drilling technologies to improve monitoring and sustainability.

Water Supply Efficiency and Sustainable Operational and Financial Models

• Improved regulatory framework for resource-efficient water supply utilities and cost recovery mechanisms.
• Enhanced operational and financial management within the water sector.
• Technical training on operational efficiency.
• Pilot campaign to raise public awareness on water conservation, encouraging reduced consumption and responsible usage.

Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Cost Recovery

• Regulatory framework improvements aligned with EU Council Directive 91/271/EEC and Directive (EU) 2024/3019.
• Utility modernization support, including financial viability assessments and action plans.
• Technology catalog for wastewater treatment modernization, with recommendations for efficiency improvements by 2027.
• National metering plan for wastewater management to monitor consumption and optimize treatment operations.

Industrial Pollution Control (with a special focus on water)

• Sharing of experiences on implementation of the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive, strengthening the implementation in Ukraine and ensure compliance with river basin management plans.
• Environmental regulation tools to regulate pollution from SMEs.
• Sharing of Danish expertise to improve enforcement mechanisms, align Ukraine’s policies with EU norms.

In short, by addressing Ukraine’s water infrastructure deficiencies, regulatory gaps, and financial limitations, this Strategic Sector Cooperation with Denmark offers a path toward modernization and sustainability. Through capacity building, technical expertise, and regulatory alignment with the EU, Ukraine’s water sector will emerge more resilient, efficient, and prepared to meet future challenges. With strong partnerships and innovative strategies, the project is set to drive impactful change, ensuring improved water governance and environmental protection for generations to come.