Tap Water Without Fear: How Bucha's Water Supply Renovation Transformed Lives

On 31 March 2022, Bucha was freed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since then, the city has been on a difficult path to recovery. The primary task was to meet the basic needs of the residents who had survived the occupation and those who had returned home.

For the residents of Bucha, the issue of quality drinking water has been a painfully long process before the full-scale war. The levels of iron, phosphate, manganese, and other harmful elements in the water sometimes exceeded safe limits several times, making it undrinkable. Due to its muddiness and unpleasant smell, it could only be used as technical water.

Thanks to the financial support of the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union’s (EU) bank, it was possible to implement a project to provide clean drinking water to almost 9,000 residents of Bucha, which was one of the important steps in restoring normal life for the community.

New water supply facility in Bucha

In July 2024, a water supply facility was opened in Bucha, renovated with EU funds. It is equipped with an oxygen deferrization system with special filters. Another important advantage is that the facility operates autonomously and requires minimal maintenance.

Now, residents of high-rise buildings, private houses, and children from a nearby kindergarten drink clean, high-quality drinking water straight from the tap.

"What a huge improvement this is now! In Bucha, water has always been a pressing challenge. Since the house was built in 1989, the water from the tap was dirty and it smelt. During the occupation, there was no water at all. Just imagine how much we suffered," says Halyna Fitisova, Head of Homeowner's Association in Bucha.

Before the occupation, the nearby buvette was the only source of clean water for the residents of the building, and people of the entire neighbourhood would come to use it, creating constant queues. But during the occupation, it was impossible to use it because there was no electricity.

Surviving the occupation: the story of a woman who didn’t leave her home

The housing cooperative Pobeda got its name from the eponymous factory that produced the materials for its construction. Most of its residents worked there. The building is Halyna’s pride, and she knows everything about it – from laying the first brick to the present day. Since 2004, she has been the head of the housing cooperative, and since then, the residents have re-elected her three times.

Halyna Fitisova did not leave her housing block and its residents after Russian troops occupied Bucha. Although she did aid those wanting to leave the city. Out of 107 apartments, only 26 people remained. Halyna being one of those who decided to stay.

"How could have I left? I was offered to evacuate many times, but I love this house and the people who live in it too much".

"That's why I refused. It's not heroic; I just know it had to be this way – I had to be here," says Halyna.

The residents spent the first three days in the basement. The organisation and discipline that was maintained from day to day in the house helped them survive the long 33 days of occupation. Everybody stuck together. Halyna organised a field kitchen with two brick grills near the buvette. When the shelling intensified, she moved it closer to the porch of the building. She cooked for everyone – both for the residents of her building and for people who came by. The men chopped trees damaged by shells for firewood and fetched water from the only clean well. Other were poisoned by the occupiers.

"It was a full-scale invasion, and we were all captives of a prison. We lived in strict limits, wore white bandages on our arms, and these inhumane people were constantly intimidating and threatening us. There was no water, gas, or electricity – nothing. No one took their phones out of the house, as having them could lead to execution. The Russians feared that people would find out about their crimes. My phone was smashed right away," says Halyna.

Halyna cannot think about her neighbours who were killed without tears in her eyes. Mykhailo, a neighbour who joined the territorial defence from day one, was shot from a tank near Stoyanka village. Yevhen, a volunteer who brought food and medicine, disappeared one day and was found tortured after the city was deoccupied. Serhiy was shot dead by a sniper at the entrance to the building.

Clean water and great plans

Halyna has lived in this house since 1989 when it was put in service. She says that she has watched the fields and people’s gardens gradually turn into new high-rise buildings from her window. Sheloves to work and says she finds strength and inspiration to move on in the gratitude and kindness of the people around her. The greatest fulfilment comes when her ideas are realised and the residents are happy.

For 35 years, the issue of clean water has been acute. Now, this and other buildings in the neighbourhood drink clean and oxygenated water.

"We remember even the smallest good that was done for our house. We are immensely grateful for this, and now we drink this water and can enjoy it," says Halyna.

European investments in Ukraine’s future

Since 2007, the EIB supported Ukraine’s development through numerous projects and programmes. Three recovery programmes, for implementation of which the EU bank has allocated €640 million, play an important role in the reconstruction of social infrastructure.

More than 120 communities have been able to renovate schools, hospitals, social and administrative buildings, as well as heating, water supply and sewage systems. In Kyiv and the Kyiv Oblast, 60 facilities have been repaired or are currently being reconstructed under the programmes with a total value of EUR 161 million.

The beneficiaries include internally displaced persons (IDPs), host communities and the regions affected by the war. Thanks to the cooperation of the EIB, the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, UNDP and the Government of Ukraine, in particular the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories and the Ministry of Finance, Ukrainians can receive quality services, improve and confidently move towards a European future despite the challenges of war.

*as of November 2024