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A week ago, the occupation authorities in Crimea put Sevastopol on high alert due to water shortages. They recognize – to In general, the problem on the peninsula is only increasing, and in addition to Sevastopol, Simferopol, Alushta and the Bakhchisarai region, hourly water supply was also introduced in the Belogorsk region. Now the occupants hope that the autumn-winter rains will ease the situation a bit.
Will winter save Crimea from lack of water? Read in the OBOZREVATEL material
There is no water, not only because of the drought
Earlier in the year, Aksenov admitted that in 2020 the peninsula will face an acute water shortage due to lack of rainfall and drought. There are 23 large reservoirs in Crimea with a volume of about 399 million cubic meters. In early summer, they were filled to only 90 million cubic meters, which was a record low, and in late August they were on the verge of drying up. For this reason, at the beginning of September water began to be supplied according to the schedule: thus began the third and most cruel stage of restrictions for the population.
Water consumption has been reduced four times from 450,000 cubic meters to 100,000 cubic meters. After the Simferopol, Bakhchisarai and Alushta regions, the water supply program was introduced in the Belogorsk region. At the same time, the occupants continue to transfer water from the Taigansk Reservoir to the Simferopol Reservoir.
“The water problem is especially acute in Simferopol and Sevastopol. In these cities, water is really given every hour,” confirmed OBOZREVATEL Crimean activist Larisa Voloshin. However, the main reason is not only the drought, but also the overpopulation of the peninsula. and now there are 3 million registered. For example, 20 thousand people lived in Sevastopol, and now there are 55 thousand. They say the occupants continue to bring people into the city. Furthermore, the number of Russian soldiers has doubled.
While Russia complained to the whole world that there was no water in Crimea, an active tourist season lasted all summer. During the water crisis and the covid pandemic, 3.5 million tourists visited Crimea. A hospital was opened in Sevastopol to treat the coronavirus in all Russian military personnel. even on boats. That is, on the one hand, the Russians say there is no water, and on the other, they continue to bring people for treatment, recreation and military service, “said Voloshina.
In addition, according to her, around the three factories of the Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash, who work for the Russian defense complex, new wells have appeared this year, pumping water from underground storage facilities. This leads to salinity of the soil.
“A side no drinking water for people, but for military bases and industrial complex – a complete green light… Recently, the invaders proposed to cut the areas in Simferopol, where the Crimean Tatars live, to save water. This is what Russia’s management in Crimea has led to ”, summed up the activist.
Summer comes to a humanitarian disaster
Water problems in Crimea are seasonal, says Mikhail Yatsyuk, deputy director of the NAAS Institute for Water Problems and Improvement. They say that in winter the situation stabilizes more or less, in spring it begins to worsen and in summer it almost reaches a humanitarian catastrophe. However, autumn-winter rainfall should more or less stabilize the situation. At least this season.
“Crimea is completely dependent on natural and climatic conditions. Autumn rainfall is negligible, but it will improve the situation. Why negligible, because groundwater is drying up and surface water is completely dependent on climatic conditions. Such rainfall that does not form runoff , but the soil moisture reserves and the water basins will be replenished. If there is not enough, it is boiled and the drains are emptied “, he explained.
Russia pressures and threatens Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russia, through various international platforms, is trying to force Ukraine to resume water supply through the Crimean North Canal and accuses the Kiev official of “violating Crimea’s rights to drinking water.” Now this question is being pressed by the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN in Geneva, to which Ukraine’s representative to the UN Serhiy Kislitsa said that it is possible to discuss the resumption of water supply from the Dnieper to occupied Crimea only if Russia officially makes such a request to the Ukrainian authorities and at the same time. it recognizes itself as an occupying country.
Meanwhile, Crimeans continue to be supplied with water on schedule, and the occupation authorities advised them not to use more than 4 liters of water a day for cooking and drinking. The same amount for hygienic needs and up to 18 liters for sanitary needs.
