Russian strike on Bortnychi Water Treatment Plant: Expert warns of consequences

Following the Russian strike on the Bortnychi Water Treatment Plant in Kyiv, there is a risk of untreated sewage discharging into the Dnipro River, meaning the primary burden of water purification could fall on downstream water utilities.

Oleksandr Serhiyenko, Director of the City Institute, shared this assessment on Espreso TV.

«The worst thing that could happen following the Russian strike on the Bortnychi Water Treatment Plant is that water treatment will cease. The Bortnychi station serves as the final facility where sewage wastewater from both domestic and industrial systems is collected. This is not a storm sewer where water flows directly into the Dnipro. Kyiv does not have industrial wastewater from metallurgical operations. Yes, there are chemical discharges, but they simply use water without contaminating it. To summarize, the worst-case scenario would be the spill of untreated water into the Dnipro,» Serhiyenko explained.

According to him, panic-laden forecasts regarding potential fish kills and poisoning have begun circulating on social media. However, the actual consequences are currently difficult to assess, and the main burden of water purification will fall on water utilities in cities located downstream.

«I have read panic-inducing posts on social media suggesting there could be poisoning and fish kills. In reality, no one can predict such specific outcomes. The core issue is that the entire burden of water purification will fall on the water utilities of cities located further downstream,» he concluded.