Express monitoring of environmental safety in Ukrainian municipal wastewater systems during war
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32347/2411-4049.2025.1.48-61Keywords:
wastewater systems, military actions, monitoring, environmental safety, indicators, planned and urgent measuresAbstract
The article is devoted to the study of the environmental safety of wastewater systems in Ukraine, which is characterized by a critical state due to global environmental changes, aging infrastructure, and military aggression. National and international legislation, including the Geneva Conventions regulating the protection of wastewater facilities, has been analyzed. It has been found that military actions have led to large-scale infrastructure destruction, water resource pollution, and a humanitarian crisis.
A categorization of wastewater systems based on the impact of military actions is proposed, which allows for the adaptation of response measures to the specific conditions of each region, from express monitoring and prevention in relatively safe zones to the restoration of destruction and preliminary forecasting in active combat zones. An express monitoring method for the environmental safety of wastewater systems has been developed, based on a limited list of key indicators, ensuring efficiency and reliability. Each indicator reflects critical aspects of environmental safety, from the depletion of water resources and soil pollution to energy efficiency and risks to public health. The quantitative assessment of indicators in points, according to the level of environmental hazard, allows for the systematization of data and the identification of the most vulnerable areas of the system. This approach provides a scientifically sound basis for the development of effective measures to minimize the negative impact on the environment and ensure the sustainable functioning of wastewater systems in emergency situations.
A retrospective express monitoring of the environmental safety of wastewater systems in Ukraine has been conducted. It has been determined that during the ten-year period of armed conflict in Ukraine, there has been a statistically significant increase in the level of environmental risk in nine regions, while in five regions the indicator remains relatively stable. In the remaining regions, a trend towards risk reduction has been observed. However, the overall environmental situation is characterized as critical, as the vast majority of regions show environmental hazard indicators that exceed permissible norms. The functioning of wastewater systems in these regions poses a threat to the environment and public health, potentially leading to a large-scale environmental catastrophe.
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