The third phase of the environmental initiative and the first in a specific area. In the Tsyrkunivska community in Kharkiv Oblast, we analyzed the water infrastructure, risks of water and soil contamination, and the condition of the river, reservoir, and floodplains. The model we developed served as the basis for digital monitoring and for extending this approach to other communities.
Why the community’s water problem has three dimensions
The Tsyrkuniv community is located north of Kharkiv. In 2022, the area was under occupation; after de-occupation, the community continued to be subjected to shelling. The hostilities damaged the water infrastructure and reduced people’s access to centralized water supply.
A separate issue is wastewater disposal. A significant portion of households use cesspools and septic tanks, and with the infrastructure damaged, this poses an additional threat to groundwater. According to the community’s strategic documents, concentrations of petroleum products, cadmium, and nitrates in groundwater have exceeded permissible levels.
Therefore, the water problem here is simultaneously humanitarian, infrastructural, and environmental.
How we identified the need
The foundation’s team worked with the community, visited the area, and analyzed the state of water supply and wastewater systems as well as environmental risks. They combined field observations with information from the community and available strategic data to identify sites requiring specialized research.
The Tsyrkuniv Community: State of the Water System
According to community data, prior to the full-scale invasion, the centralized water supply system served approximately 85% of the housing stock; after infrastructure damage, this figure dropped to about 40%. Of the 12 pre-war artesian wells, three were operational. The community’s territory includes the Kharkiv River, the Vyalovskoye Reservoir, floodplain meadows, and other aquatic and riparian areas. This description pertains to the community and the state of its infrastructure, not the scope of work performed by the foundation.
Goals, Objectives, and Results
The goal is to develop a practical approach to assessing water resources and related environmental risks in order to determine priorities for the recovery of affected communities. Using the example of Tsyrkuniv, we traced the entire chain: water body → water supply source → condition of infrastructure → potential contamination → impact on soil and groundwater → risks to people → required solution.
| Objectives | What We Did | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Assess water supply and wastewater systems | Analyzed artesian wells, distribution networks, local water sources, and sewer infrastructure | Identified locations where contamination could enter groundwater and surface water |
| Assess risks to water and soil | Water was considered in conjunction with soil conditions: contaminants migrate through the soil into groundwater and surface water | The need for systematic monitoring of water quality and identification of pollution sources was substantiated |
| Take natural water systems into account | The Kharkiv River, the Vyalovskoye Reservoir, floodplain meadows, and riparian areas were assessed together with water infrastructure | Restoring water supply is considered in conjunction with the conservation of aquatic ecosystems |
| Compile data onto a single map | Water bodies, water sources, damaged infrastructure, sources of pollution, and vulnerable areas have been integrated into a single geodata system | The foundation for GIS-based risk mapping and a digital environmental profile of the community |
The result is a model for a comprehensive assessment of water resources and environmental risks for war-affected areas. It integrates water resources, municipal infrastructure, soils, natural ecosystems, and human needs into a single territorial approach.
Work Model: From Problem to Recovery Project
Problem and Data
We identify the problem and collect data about the area.
Field Assessment
We inspect the condition of the water supply, wastewater systems, and water bodies on site.
Risks and Map
We identify environmental risks and map them alongside water bodies and damage.
Priorities and solutions
We decide what to restore first and develop solutions.
Project and Funding
We prepare a restoration project and secure funding for it.
In this model, the environmental assessment serves as a tool for preparing specific community restoration projects.
What this project did not do
Scope of Work
The project did not rebuild the community’s infrastructure itself. Its outcome is a model for assessing and justifying priorities that serve as the basis for reconstruction projects.
Place within the environmental focus area
The foundation’s environmental track consists of sequential phases: each one addressed the question raised by the previous one.
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Environmental restoration of communities affected by the war
Transition from responding to destruction to analyzing long-term risks to water, soil, and natural areas in these communities.
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Restoration of natural ecosystems and environmental sustainability in communities
The state of the environment began to be considered alongside infrastructure and people’s needs.
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Comprehensive assessment of water resources and environmental risks in communities
Pilot project in the Tsyrkunivska community: water supply, wastewater management, groundwater, and ecosystems as a single system.
This project -
Comprehensive assessment and modernization of community water supply and wastewater systems
Field surveys and water testing. Key finding: An environmental assessment must be conducted prior to any investment decision.
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Comparative assessment of water management in Ukrainian communities
A comparison of different types of communities showed that a unified assessment methodology is needed.
Ongoing -
Digital monitoring and mapping of community water ecosystems
Standardized field data collection, GIS mapping, digital model of the water body, remote engagement of experts.
Ongoing -
LIVING WATER
Transition from individual territories to a network of communities using a common methodology.
The concept has been submitted
Documents
Public
Available upon request
- Project description and team working materials
- Photos from field trips to the Tsyrkunivska Community
- Foundation policies and compliance documents
About the Organization
Charitable Organization “International Unity Movement Foundation,” EDRPOU 44797809. Compliance management system in accordance with ISO 37301:2021. Confidential inquiries: [email protected]. The complete partner verification package is available on the partners’ page.
Discuss cooperation in the environmental field
The model developed in Tsyrkuny formed the basis for digital monitoring and the “LIVING WATER” project. We are open to collaboration with communities, scientific institutions, and partners who fund restoration efforts.
