Providing Ukrainians with high-quality drinking water: how the Audit Chamber's audit will help
Ukraine has introduced European requirements for the permissible content of certain substances in drinking water, declared goals for the energy modernization of water utilities, and approved management plans for certain river basins. These are the first results of the implementation of recommendations provided to the governments of the participating countries following the results of the international joint audit on Goal 6 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals "Ensure availability and sustainable use of water resources and sanitation for all", and recommendations provided by the Accounting Chamber following the results of the audit of the effectiveness of measures aimed at achieving Goal 6 "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water resources and sanitation" Sustainable Development Goals of Ukraine for the period up to 2030.
The joint audit was conducted by the supreme audit institutions of Serbia, Croatia, Poland, Ukraine and Hungary (as the audit coordinator). The report on the results of this audit was prepared based on the results of national control measures provided by each country.
Following the audit results, a number of recommendations were provided to the governments of the participating countries in order to achieve economic and efficient use of available water resources: to improve coordination between state bodies and stakeholders in the water sector, improve monitoring and reporting, prioritize infrastructure investments, introduce new technologies, etc.
Within the framework of implementing these recommendations and the recommendations of the national audit, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved River Basin Management Plans of the Dnieper, Dniester, Don, Vistula, Southern Bug, Black Sea rivers, rivers Azov, Crimean and Danube rivers. The State Targeted Economic Program for Energy Modernization of Water Supply and Sewerage Enterprises in State or Municipal Ownership for the Period Until 2030 was also approved.
In addition, executive authorities have begunto resolve inconsistencies between the provisions of legislation and regulations in the field of drinking water supply and sewage with the requirements of EU legislation.
In particular, the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine has developed a draft law on improving the norms of legislation in the field of drinking water supply and sewage, which is currently being processed.
By order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, amendments have been made to the State Sanitary Norms and Rules “Hygienic Requirements for Drinking Water Intended for Human Consumption” and "Safety indicators and individual indicators of drinking water quality in martial law and other emergencies". These standards establish the relevant requirements for protecting the health of the population from radioactive substances in drinking water.
The Accounting Chamber continues to monitor the implemented recommendations of this audit and will inform the public about their implementation.
For reference: The Accounting Chamber's national audit of the effectiveness of measures aimed at achieving Goal 6 "Ensuring accessibility and sustainable management of water resources and sanitation" of the Sustainable Development Goals of Ukraine for the period up to 2030 covered the years 2019-2022. The corresponding Report and decisions were adopted in early June 2023.