«There is no threat to people's lives and health»: Shmyhal spoke about the state of the Seim, Desna and Dnipro rivers

Denys Shmyhal, photo: kmu.gov.ua

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal reported that according to the State Emergency Service (ESES) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine, there is no threat to water intakes on the Seim, Desna and Dnipro rivers.

He announced this at a press conference, the correspondent of Ukrinform reports.

During the event, he explained that sewage from the sugar factory in Tiotkino, Kursk Region was dumped into the Seim River, which caused pollution with organic substances. Due to this, the oxygen level in the river decreased, and a mass plague of fish began.

«At the moment, organic matter settles and dissolves. There are no threats to human life and health. There is also no threat to the water intakes of Chernihiv on the Desna River and Kyiv on the Dnipro River,» said Denys Shmyhal.

According to him, there is a clear understanding that these substances are organic and exactly how pollution occurs. Currently, all clean-up activities, including the use of activated sludge and the removal of dead fish, are carried out under the supervision of the Minister of Environmental Protection.

It will be recalled that Volodymyr Kostyuk, deputy director of Kyivvodokanal PJSC, said that due to the pollution of the Desna River, Kyiv risks losing its main source of drinking water and will be forced to use alternative sources of water supply. According to him, the pollution of the river is moving from Chernihiv to Kyiv, and the expected «dilution», which experts hoped for, is not happening.