How can Ukrainian water utility Lvivvodokanal optimise its services? And how can its German partners provide support? The German-Ukrainian utility partnership took the answers to these questions as the basis for drawing up an ambitious work plan. The focus is not exclusively on technical subjects.

The project

The Utility Partnership initially started with a cooperation with Lvivvodokanal in Western Ukraine. However, the project activities temporarily slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic, which made the project's progress quite challenging.

After a one-year project period with profound insights into the status assessment and operation of a water company in Ukraine, as well as in joint discussions among all project participants, it became evident that the challenges for Ukrainian (waste) water operators are basically similar to those in Germany. The different fields of action require a solution-oriented joint approach. 

Calculation of tariffs for cost recovery

It is barely possible for water companies to cover the operation costs of the pipeline network, wastewater treatment plants with revenues from water and wastewater charges.Therefore, the partners plan to develop a practical guideline on tariff pricing. Perspectively, a dialogue with government and policymakers needs to be established.

Junior staff recruitment and qualification 

In Ukraine, as in Germany, it is difficult to meet the demand for skilled workers in the water sector. On average, company employees are aged between 55 and 65, wages are relatively low and job profiles are not particularly attractive for qualified young people. Therefore, the operators exchange ideas on how to create incentives for business loyalty and how to improve the image of the sector.

Plant optimisation and process structure

For the maintenance of the wastewater network, the need for human resources is very high. There is great potential for cost savings through qualification measures. The partners are planning technical trainings on the reduction of water losses, quality standards and treatment of sewage sludge. In this context, special attention will be paid to the training of multipliers who will disseminate the knowledge they have gained. Besides, sustainable investments and modern plant management could save a lot of energy in the future.

Expanding the operator partnership

The existing operator partnership with Lvivvodokanal has been joined by the water companies of the cities of Ternopil and Nadvirna. The inclusion of the new partners fundamentally contributes to the idea of helping neighbours and supports a sustainable water management strategy for small and medium-sized municipal operators in Western Ukraine.
Synergies in the exchange of knowledge and experience - for example through advisory services, workshops and trainings, are a key element of the operator partnership and are substantially driven by Ukrainian needs.

Consistent networking among Ukrainian operators, including with the association Ukrovodokanalekologyja, which represents the link to the governmental authorities, enables the elaboration, implementation and maintenance of sustainable solutions in the long term. Synergies have to be used in a targeted manner.

Looking ahead, this cooperation is to be considered the cornerstone of a potential operator network of regional water companies in (western) Ukraine, in order to achieve significant improvements in drinking water and wastewater management. In a first step, the partners are to act as multipliers for other water and wastewater actors in Ukraine, and in the long term they will be trained to engage in activities beyond the scope of this project.

Strategic realignment

Since February 2022, the operating partnership is being confronted with the burdening situation of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The new circumstances no longer allow for the project work that has been developed so far. From now on, the exchange between the partners takes place online and at irregular frequencies.

The partnership work is strongly influenced by the limited operational capacities of the Ukrainian colleagues. Depending on the availability of electricity, taking into account air alerts and the ad-hoc deployments of the Ukrainian colleagues to maintain drinking water supply and sewage disposal, the partners nevertheless try to find creative solutions to hold on a technical discourse on the core topics of the partnership. The cooperation is being adapted to the new situation and needs. It was essential to align and reduce the core topics and to focus on urgently needed procurement of technical equipment. Travelling from Ukraine to Germany is possible with a considerable administrative bureaucracy, but may have to be cancelled shortly before the trip starts.