Sewage is flowing into the river in Mykolaiv — the water utility cites a shortage of workers to carry out repairs

Sewage has been flowing onto Lazurna Street and into the river for several weeks. Photo: Pavlo Zotkin

In Mykolaiv, sewage from the Namyv neighbourhood has been flowing into the Bug Estuary for several weeks now. The water utility explained that the cause was a collapse in the sewer main, and that the leak could not be quickly repaired due to a shortage of staff. Meanwhile, the State Environmental Inspectorate has confirmed the pollution of the water body.

This is reported by NikVesti.

Residents of Namyv have been reporting the problem for several weeks now. In a complaint to the Contact Centre at Mykolaiv City Council, they noted that sewage was leaking near the building at 16 Lazurna Street.

Sewage has been flowing onto Lazurna Street for several weeks and entering the river. Photo: Ksenia Chekhova

According to residents, the stench prevents them from opening their windows, whilst the sewage flows through courtyards past residential buildings, a shop, a café and a public transport stop, eventually ending up in the river.

Pavlo Zotkin, a local resident and former city councillor, has also drawn attention to the situation. He reported that for around two weeks now, residents of the houses along the riverbank have been waking up to the pungent smell of sewage.

«For two weeks now, mornings in the riverside homes of Namyv have not begun with a cup of coffee… residents of Namyv and visitors to the beach area are «enjoying the aroma» of sewage. It is particularly regrettable that all this sewage is flowing into the river, where our city’s residents swim nearby. Sewage discharges flowing into the river in the beach area are having a negative impact on water quality, where children also swim,» wrote Pavlo Zotkin.

Sewage has been leaking onto Lazurna Street for several weeks and flowing into the river. Photo: Pavlo Zotkin

Sewage has been flowing onto Lazurna Street and into the river for several weeks. Photo: Pavlo Zotkin

Sewage has been leaking onto Lazurna Street and flowing into the river for several weeks. Photo: Pavlo Zotkin

Specialists from the State Environmental Inspectorate visited the site and established that sewage with a distinctive odour was leaking from a manhole near a residential building. It is flowing into the Bug Estuary via the stormwater drainage system.

The inspectors took water samples. Laboratory tests revealed that permissible limits for pollutants, specifically nitrogen compounds and phosphates, had been exceeded.

«The test results confirmed that the maximum permissible concentrations of pollutants—specifically nitrogen compounds and phosphates—had been exceeded. These figures indicate that untreated sewage has entered the water body,» the environmental inspectorate reported.

The Inspectorate is now preparing a letter to the municipal utility «Mykolaivvodokanal» to obtain information on the volume of effluent that has entered the estuary and to identify the official responsible. Following this, the damage caused to the environment will be assessed.

Due to a breach in the sewer main, sewage is flowing into the Bug Estuary. Photo: State Environmental Inspectorate

Due to a collapse in the sewer main, sewage is flowing into the Bug Estuary. Photo: State Environmental Inspectorate

In a comment to NikVesti, the water utility reported that another collapse had occurred in the sewer main at this location.

«Another collapse has occurred in the sewer main at this location. The company’s specialists have installed equipment to pump out the sewage and prevent it from entering the river. However, due to a shortage of staff and the inability of emergency crews to move around the city during the curfew, pumping was not carried out at night. Consequently, sewage leaks occurred on this street,» the company reported.

The company added that from now on, the emergency team will be able to work at night as well, so sewage will be pumped round the clock to prevent it from entering the Bug Estuary.

«From 30 June, the issue regarding the emergency team’s night-time movements around the city has been resolved, so sewage will be pumped round the clock,» the company reported.

It should be noted that in Mykolaiv, residents of buildings at 19, 21, 23 and 29 Yevheniia Lohinova Street have been complaining about their basements being flooded with water and sewage. According to them, the problem has been ongoing for several weeks.