How to solve the problem of water supply for Kertch?
A critical situation is forming today in the Kertch water-supply. It has the potential to be a catastrophe, but it was predictable. And people responsible for water supply knew about it long before it reached this critical stage. They knew, but could not do anything. Why? As always it was a question of financing, but to a greater extent - of inefficient water resource management.
Since 1974, Dnipro river water has flowed into Kertch through the Northern Crimean Channel. Before this, the town had managed by means of groundwater sources and artesian wells. Specialists say that today there isn't an alternative to using the Dnipro water, in regards to both quantity and quality. This, and other water-supply problems effecting Kertch's local authorities and inhabitants were the topic of a round-table discussion, initiated by the Kertch branch of "Ekologiya I Mir" at the end of April 2003.
Vasiliy Ostapenko, a chief of Kertch water-supply system, shared with participants his view of the problems. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, all programs for keeping water-supply systems operating at adequate levels were closed: they were simply not appropriated any funds. "And, since 1991, replacement of intercity, distributing, and residential networks began to depend exclusively on local sources for money for the water-supply system. It wasn't enough. That is why today about 150 km of plumbing networks are worn-out. It is a huge figure, because we can't get water through these water-pipes and, consequently, cannot get to the sewers".
In addition, Kertch inhabitants often face a problem with water turbidity. Filling a glass, they have to ask themselves if they really ought to drink such murky slush. As a chief engineer of project institute Crimean Hydroeconomics, Nikolay Snegur explained that the point is that, for reasons of economy, 75m of pipes were laid at shallow depths instead of regulation depths. As a result they many pass through, and are contaminated by, areas in which mud and other debris is higher than normal.
The quality of drinking water was also discussed. A manager of the Kertch sanitary-and-epidemiologic station, Margarita Gurskaya discussed where and how water tests are taken. About 700 tests are taken every year for bacteriological research and about the same quantity for sanitary-chemical research. Most of indexes are based on these analyses and meet with all-Union State "Drinking Water" standards, in spite of visible water turbidity in amounts higher than should be allowed.
Margarita Gurskaya also admitted that "in distinct districts there are only local water sources. Sanitary-and-epidemiologic station know of nine wells which have water (based on our independent research), is not bad (organoleptic levels are perfect, only small, acceptable rates for salinity). Nitrogen levels are normal and nitrates found maintain constant levels are, we think, they are from natural sources".
President of "Ekologiya I Mir", Victor Tarasenko, said that today the main water-supply problem lies with water sources management. Current infrastructure of the water industry needs reconstruction, organizational and financial efforts. Water quality is a primary task, but we can't solve it without economic reformation.
Victor Tarasenko also admitted that Kerch is an example of the problems all over Crimea. There are stoppages in water supply, water quality is often below standard, and we have weak managing system of water consumption.
At the round-table discussion in Kertch, a Water Counsel workgroup was chosen. Its main tasks will be to evaluate the current situation in municipal water-supply system and then design a plan for optimal ways to solve emergent problems.
Now by the means of Kertch branch of "Ekologiya I Mir" and water volunteer group a research of some municipal springs' condition is being done. The next step will touch the problem of development of the zones around springs, index mark mounting and passageway equipment.
05 May, 2003
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