One of our key projects, the construction of a water pipeline, has been gradually filling the system with water since July 30. During this time, most of the preparatory and commissioning work has been completed, and hydraulic tests of the fittings and pipelines are currently underway.
Filling the water pipeline is a complex process that requires technical precision and caution. Water cannot be run at full pressure to avoid hydraulic shock, which can damage the system. Therefore, the process is carried out gradually, in compliance with technological standards.
About 65% of the network (44 km) has been checked. Specialists continue to gradually fill the system with water. They check the pressure, the operation of fittings and valves and the condition of the pipeline.
The water has already passed through the first two pumping stations, and tomorrow pumping through the third will begin. In case of deviations, the process may be suspended to release air or drain water to avoid accidents and ensure reliability.
Ahead are hydraulic tests, checking the remaining sections of the network and recording pressure and tightness parameters. Based on the results, the readiness of the water pipeline for operation will be determined and water will then be supplied to consumers. Mykolaiv residents will receive water in August.
Over just a few months, 99% of the pipeline has been installed, the pumping stations are 85% complete, and work on other facilities is ongoing.
These are the realities we face: substations that power the pumping stations are encased in concrete underground for safety reasons. Work has already been completed at two locations, and excavation continues at the third pumping station. All cables are also routed underground. Additionally, shelters for pipeline workers are under construction, said Serhii Sukhomlyn, the head of the Agency for Restoration.
The water pipeline will provide centralized water supply to 500,000 residents of Mykolaiv, who have been without water since 2022 due to the destruction of the main pipeline.
People will receive a reliable and uninterrupted water supply. The project takes into account future water pumping costs, which will help curb tariff increases. Farmers will receive additional resources for irrigating their fields.
In the fall of 2024, the Agency for Restoration conducted a feasibility study, which made it possible to reduce the cost of the project from UAH 8.7 billion to UAH 6.3 billion. Work began in January, and water will be available in August.
The project includes a new water intake station, protective structures, shelters for workers, frequency converters, backup generators, a fiber optic system and backup power lines. The water pipeline has a capacity of 170,000 m³ per day: 120,000 m³ for the population and 50,000 m³ for farmers.