National Workshop “Technical Solutions for Improvement of Ukrainian Citizens' Access to Safe Drinking Water in Urban and Rural Areas”

On February 24, 2004 Ukrainian National Environmental NGO “МАМА-86” held a National Workshop and Presentation of a Pilot Projects Program “Technical Solutions for Improvement of Ukrainian Citizens' Access to Safe Drinking Water in Urban and Rural Areas” that was implemented under “MAMA-86” Campaign “Drinking Water in Ukraine” with the financial contribution of the NOVIB-Oxfam, the Netherlands.

Mr. Mykola I. Bryhadyr, Deputy Head of Water and Sanitation Department, State Committee on Housing and Communal Service of Ukraine, and Mrs. Natalia V. Shymanska, Deputy Head of Standing Commission on Environment, Ecological Safety and Protection of Population from Chornobyl Disaster, the Kyiv City Council, opened the workshop.

Mrs. Ganna M. Tsvetkova, “Drinking Water in Ukraine” Campaign Coordinator, presented the Pilot Projects Program. Mrs. Tsvetkova reported on stages of the Program implementation, particularly, she presented results of the pilot projects implementation under the following three directions: rational water use and water-saving, solutions for drinking water in rural areas, and alternative solutions of water supply for different groups of consumers.

The event participants perceived presentation of the pilot projects results, made by their direct performers, with real interest and a lot of questions. During the discussion special attention was given to issue of exchange of information on practical experience of the Program implementation at the local level and ways of resolving the associated problems. A collection of materials “Models of Technical Solutions of Drinking Water Problems in Rural and Urban Areas of Ukraine : Experience of MAMA-86” was presented at the workshop. The Collection includes information about implementation of 11 pilot projects. Workshop Resolution was adopted by the participants. The workshop materials were distributed among the state institutions and government authorities on February 25.

88 representatives of NGOs, governmental authorities, including the Kyiv City Council, the State Committee on Housing and Communal Service of Ukraine, the State Building Committee, Kyiv Water Supply Service, business and science community took part in the discussion. Representatives of international organizations also attended the workshop-presentation.

Mass media also didn't stand aside from the workshop. 24 journalists took part in a press-conference “You Can Drink Whatever You Poured Before”. A number of publications in newspaper, Internet, TV and radio programs covered the event for Ukrainian public.