«This is not even 10 annual budgets of the city», — the mayor about the cost of replacing old pipes of the Ochakiv water supply system

The trench dug by Ochakiv utility workers to replace the pipes, photo NikVesti

Today, most of the 180 kilometres of underground pipes in Ochakiv's water supply network are worn out and need to be replaced.

This is described in the article by NikVesti «Just 3.5 Kilometers From the Enemy: Ochakiv, a Resort Turned Frontline Town»

«The 180 kilometres of underground network that run through the city are almost out of order, they are already about 50 years old. That's why the water quality is deteriorating when water flows through iron instead of plastic, which is already worn out. We are partially replacing them, but we cannot say that tomorrow we will wake up and replace all the kilometres. We need to dig up the entire city. That's why we're replacing parts of it — streets and neighbourhoods,» explained Ochakiv Mayor Serhii Bychkov.

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The water itself comes to the city from a 100-metre deep well. «The water is good, only slightly calcified and hard», says the mayor.

In general, the replacement of the entire underground water supply system requires significant funds, the mayor says.

«Laying a pipe is not just about the pipe. It includes wells, valves, infrastructure, sidewalks, and green space. It takes time and a lot of money. I don't even want to name the amount, but it's a lot. It's not even 10 annual city budgets. But we are working a little bit, changing 2-3 kilometres every year and moving forward,» added Serhii Bychkov.

Currently, the utility is replacing the water supply system on one of the city streets — they are laying about 1 kilometre of new pipes. Three workers and equipment are on site. An excavator is digging a trench to replace the pipes.

«We are now pulling a new water supply line from the main highway to this street to provide people with water. Then people will install meters in their neighbourhoods,» said Deputy Mayor Oleksii Vaskov.

Ochakiv City Council plans to approve a programme to address the problems with drinking water quality and the state of water supply and sewerage networks in the community. The programme requires 969 million hryvnias.