Waste water issues

Waste water management in Kiev is still a matter of concern in view of quantity and quality. Citizens in Kiev have a much higher need of tap water (about three times more!) and therefore produce significantly more sewage than people in Western Europe. This is related (among other things) to the fact that water use is not measured and even hot water is considered as unlimitedly available. The efficiency of the waste water treatment station could be better and the energy use less if the "per-capita consumption"  would be reduced.

City waste water is mixed with industrial waste water. The canalisation network (view the map), as in many other cities, needs to be repaired permanently. The storm water canalisation network is shown on a map as well; special treatment or sedimentation basins are missing. Related problems are additionally mentioned in the surface water chapter.

Sludge resulting from the biological treatment is enriched with toxic substances (heavy metals and various organic compounds) and can not be reused. It is deposed some 10 km away from Kiev for dewatering. For this kind of the sludge removal, alternatives must be found in the future.

Treated waste water and sludge can contain pharmaceuticals that end up in the food chain or in downstream drinking water works. Information on this problem is mostly missing and public awareness almost zero. This can be changed and relevant recommendations can be given to improve the situation

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