Heating, water distribution points and schools: the current situation in Mykolaiv

In Mykolaiv, there are problems with heating due to frost and power cuts. Archive photo: NikVesti

In Mykolaiv, cold weather and power outages are causing heating problems in schools, kindergartens and apartments, and taps are freezing at some water supply points.

NikVesti has compiled brief information about the current situation in the city.

Schools decide independently whether to switch to distance learning

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Svitlana Makarova, deputy head of the Mykolaiv City Council's education department, explained to NikVesti that each school decides for itself whether to switch to distance learning or remain in normal mode.

«The educational process is currently taking place in person or in a mixed format. Institutions where problems arise can, by decision of the teaching council, change the mode of learning and switch to a distance format if necessary. Today, each headteacher, together with their teaching staff, has the right to decide this issue independently. At the moment, only Lyceum №38 «Municipal Colleges» is teaching remotely due to problems with the temperature regime. The rest of the schools are operating in the usual format, and kindergartens are also functioning as usual,» said Svitlana Makarova.

She added that the temperature in classrooms should be 18 degrees Celsius and above, but in some classrooms, 16 degrees Celsius and above is acceptable, and in kindergartens, 18 degrees Celsius and above.

«After the power is turned off, the batteries remain warm for about three hours and then gradually become colder. However, when children and staff are in the building, this is hardly noticeable. The problem is most noticeable after the weekend, when no one has been at school for two days, and it is cold when the children arrive. In general, the temperature in the classrooms is normal, and we are keeping this issue under control. If an institution decides to switch to distance learning, that is their right,» added Svitlana Makarova.

Schools decide for themselves whether to switch to distance learning. Illustrative photo: Mykolaiv City Council

We would like to add that some parents complain that children are forced to sit in their coats in class.

«Over the past week, air raid sirens have been sounding very often at school. Children are almost constantly interrupted from their studies and are forced to go down to the shelter, where they actually study. The situation at our school is complicated by the fact that students study in the main building, because the shelter in the primary school building has not yet been completed. Because of this, classes last only three hours — then the second shift begins. But even during this short time, the children run to the shelter several times. In addition, it has been cold in the school lately. A child said that half of the students in the class were sitting in their coats,» Anastasiia said in a comment to NikVesti.

Are the flats warm?

Mykola Lohvinov, director of OKP Mykolaivoblteploenergo, said in a comment to NikVesti that in Mykolaiv, the regional heating company heats 1,300 buildings, and about 10 of them are left without heat during power outages.

«The city has heat, water and electricity, although there are occasional interruptions. In 85% of buildings, boiler rooms operate continuously, even in the absence of electricity. There are 1,300 buildings in Mykolaiv that are heated by Mykolaiv Regional Heating Company. Problems are observed only in 10 buildings due to old equipment and an outdated system, but in general, 85-90% of buildings are constantly supplied with heat,» said Mykola Lohvinov.

However, some complaints are coming in from residents. In particular, in the Facebook group Contact Centre at the Mykolaiv City Council.

Complaints about heating during power outages, screenshot from the Facebook group Contact Centre at the Mykolaiv City Council

Complaints about heating during power outages, screenshot from the Facebook group Contact Centre at the Mykolaiv City Council

«All buildings are more or less heated. According to our thermal inspection, there have been no complaints about temperatures below 17 degrees — this is the minimum temperature. I understand that people want the radiators to be hot around the clock, but this is not possible, especially in old boiler rooms in basements,» explained Mykola Lohvinov.

Mykolaiv, photo: Svitlana Koval

Water distribution points

Mykola Lohvinov told NikVesti that 28 drinking water points are constantly operating on the regional heating company's balance sheet.

«Twenty-eight points operate continuously, even during power outages. The rest operate according to the emergency outages schedule. Every time the schedule changes, we update the information on Facebook about which points are operating. Twenty-eight points operate around the clock, the rest according to the emergency outages schedule,» said Mykola Logvinov.

Frozen taps at one of the free drinking water distribution points in Mykolaiv, 19 January. Photo: NikVesti

So, there are 28 water distribution points that operate regardless of power outages and there are 79 points on the regional heating company's balance sheet.

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City residents collect water at a free distribution point on 19 January. Photo: NikVesti

Another problem is that due to the cold weather and power outages, some water distribution points are operating intermittently: the taps freeze, and people cannot always collect water. Residents have been complaining about the unstable operation of free water distribution points for over a week.

The water distribution points, which belong to the OKP Mykolaivoblteploenergo, are usually located in boiler rooms, where the water is heated from the premises. That is why they operate more stably, and city residents are advised to use them first.

One of the free drinking water distribution points in Mykolaiv, 20 January. Photo: NikVesti

One of the free drinking water distribution points in Mykolaiv, 20 January. Photo: NikVesti

We would like to add that there are also 24 drinking water distribution points in Mykolaiv based at the Pilot housing and communal services department.

The schedule for water delivery by tram and trolleybus is available at the link.

We would like to add that tomorrow, 21 January, forecasters predict severe cold in the Mykolaiv region. At night, the temperature will drop to −8 to −13 °C, and during the day, the air will warm up to only −3 to +2 °C. In Mykolaiv, temperatures are expected to range from −9 to −11 °C at night and 0–2 °C during the day. Fog and icy roads are possible in some areas, with a south wind of 5–10 m/s and no precipitation forecast.