The Environmental Inspectorate confirmed that sewage entered Lymany following a pump failure at «Shtrasse» in Mykolaiv

A sewage leak was detected near the lake in «Lisky» Park. Photo: Yana, Mykolaiv City Council Contact Centre

Following the leak near the lake in Lisky Park in Mykolaiv, levels of pollutants were found to be above the permitted limits. It has also emerged that sewage effluent entered Lymany. Those responsible are currently being identified so that they can be held administratively liable, and the extent of the damage caused will be assessed at a later date.

This was reported by the State Environmental Inspectorate of the South-Western District in a comment to NikVesti.

It should be recalled that a resident of Mykolaiv reported the sewage leak near the lake on 13 October. She noted that the effluent was also entering the stormwater drainage system and flowing towards a residential complex on Namyv, and that there was a risk of it reaching the Southern Buh River.

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However, the water utility assured that the effluent had not entered the lake, as an earthen embankment had been constructed around it.

On 15 October, the environmental inspectorate reported that it had surveyed a section of the Buh Estuary, near the «Zolnyi» garage co-operative and the «Apelsin» housing estate. Representatives from «ELU Avtodorig» took part in the inspection, as the effluent had entered the company’s sewer system and from there flowed into Lymany.

«Water with the distinctive odour of sewage was found in the storm drains. It was established that it flows by gravity into the Buh Estuary,» the Environmental Inspectorate stated.

Sewage is flowing into Lymany via the stormwater drainage network. Photo: Environmental Inspectorate

Sewage is entering Lymany via the stormwater drainage network. Photo: Environmental Inspectorate

Environmental inspectors also noted that the leak occurred due to a faulty pump near the «Strasse» market. Analysis of the effluent revealed that levels exceeded the permitted limits.

«Laboratory tests revealed that permissible concentrations were exceeded for six parameters: ammonium nitrogen, nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, sulphates and total iron,» the Environmental Inspectorate stated.

Environmental inspectors told NikVesti that they are currently investigating all the circumstances of the incident and determining who is responsible for this offence.

«Liability is provided for under Part 1 of Article 59 of the Code of Administrative Offences, «Violation of the rules on the protection of water resources». «The calculation of damages will be carried out once all the necessary information has been received, in accordance with the «Methodology for calculating the amount of compensation for losses caused to the state as a result of violations of legislation on the protection and rational use of water resources»,» the Environmental Inspectorate explained.

As a reminder, in July, residents of Namyv complained about sewage being discharged into the estuary near the «Apelsin» residential complex. At the time, the water utility confirmed that the sewage had not been pumped out following the accident.

Sewer main failure at the «Strasse» market

In February 2025, a sewer main collapsed at the «Strasse» market in Mykolaiv. The water utility’s management noted that the market had been built in breach of national building regulations: the market stalls are situated directly above a concrete sewer, which has suffered significant gas corrosion and is in a state of disrepair.

In September, the water utility reported in response to an enquiry from NikVesti that, since the accident which occurred a year and a half ago, 25 metres of 500-millimetre-diameter pipework had been replaced.

A contract for the repair of the sewer has now been signed with Ukrspetsoborudovanie LLC, which has offered to carry out the work for 7.49 million hryvnias. The repairs are to be funded by donors.

The director of the water utility announced at a staff meeting on 5 October that the repairs are scheduled to be completed in October.

Sewage leaks into the lake in Lisky

In the spring, sewage entered the lake in Lisky Park. Environmental inspectors recorded levels exceeding the permitted limits for certain substances, including dissolved oxygen, ammonium nitrogen, nitrates and phosphates.

In response to an information request from NikVesti, the water and sewerage authority stated that the entity responsible for the gravity-fed sewerage network on Industrialna Street – from which the effluent leaked into the lake – is Eraagro Ltd.

Following the incident, the damaged manhole was repaired and an earth embankment was constructed. However, rubbish was found near the manhole during the summer.

Read more in the article NikVesti: «Sewage leaks into the lake and a climate change indicator in Mykolaiv: the state of Lisky Park».