Ukrainian towns are switching to autonomous water supply: what changes are being made ahead of winter
This has been reported by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine.
As part of its Resilience Plans, the Ministry is implementing 29 water supply projects across 14 regions of Ukraine. These involve the construction and modernisation of nearly 900 km of water mains.
There are also plans to install over 4,000 units of modern equipment. This is expected to create over 45 MW of additional capacity for the water supply systems.
Separately, plans are in place to upgrade pumping equipment. According to the ministry, this will be capable of pumping 3–4 million cubic metres of water per day.
The key idea is to avoid dependence on a single water source or a single power supply hub. For communities, this means backup water intake points, autonomous water supply, protection of key facilities and backup power supplies for water utilities.
Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister for Community and Territorial Development, stated that the state is moving towards a model of a resilient and redundant system. According to him, such systems must function “under any circumstances”.
In effect, this involves preparing water utilities for the winter and for potential attacks on the energy sector and infrastructure. If a facility has a backup power supply and alternative water sources, the city will have a better chance of maintaining its water supply even during emergencies or blackouts.
Where specific projects are already underway
One of the most notable examples is the Mykolaiv region. In the Mykolaiv region, the construction of a modern water supply system, including treatment facilities, has been completed. This involves a preliminary water treatment plant with a capacity of 120,000 cubic metres per day.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, new water mains are being built for communities affected by the bombing of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. More than 28,000 residents are set to receive a stable, centralised water supply once the work is completed. One of the projects was scheduled to be launched in July 2026, the other in September.
Kyiv is making separate preparations for the winter. The capital has already built backup power systems with a capacity of almost 16 MW to meet the needs of the water supply network. In total, the city plans to install diesel power plants with a combined capacity of around 40 MW.
For city residents, these projects are intended to reduce the risk of a complete loss of water supply during emergencies, shelling or power cuts. This involves not just new pipes, but a backup strategy for the entire system: additional power supplies, alternative sources, new pumping stations and modernised equipment.
This is particularly critical for frontline and affected regions, where water infrastructure has already been damaged or is operating under heavy strain.
Preparing for winter
The Ministry of Development cites the development of a modern, redundant and energy-independent water supply system as one of the priorities of state policy for restoring and strengthening community resilience.
This means that, ahead of the coming winter, water utilities must be equipped with greater technical capacity to operate in the face of power cuts and infrastructure damage.
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