On 30 June and 21 July 2025, a two-part online webinar brought together around 80 participants from key organizations including Hamburg Wasser, Kiewvodokanal, Rivnevodokanal, Berliner Wasserbetriebe, DVGW research centre TUHH and National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE), along with over 20 Ukrainian water supply companies.
The first part of the event included an introductory presentation of the SafeCREW project by Mathias Ernst (Dr., Full Prof. and Chair of TUHH Water Resources and Water Supply) from DVGW-TUHH. It was followed by two talks by NUWEE. „Water supply sources in western Ukraine“ by Serhii Klimov (Ph.D., Associate Professor at NUWEE) and „Water quality monitoring sites“ by Serhii Kunitsky (PhD, leading scientist at NUWEE).
The second part of the event featured two presentations by NUWEE doctoral candidates. The first, “Water Disinfection Methods in Ukraine and Promising Areas for Their Development,” by Oleksiy Kuryliuk reviewed current disinfection practices and potential new technologies tailored for Ukraine. A major topic was the potential use of chlorine dioxide as a drinking water disinfectant. While its advantages were acknowledged, participants agreed that additional research is needed. The discussion emphasized the importance of safe and effective disinfection methods as well as good water treatment practices to reduce disinfection-by-products.
The second presentation “Comparison of EU and Ukrainian Water Quality Standards,” by Volodymyr Besediuk compared legislative frameworks in Ukraine and the EU, highlighting differences and opportunities for harmonization.
The discussion highlighted the implementation of a risk-based approach to water safety. This framework, increasingly adopted in the EU, was seen as promising for Ukraine’s water sector.
This event facilitated valuable knowledge exchange and strengthened cooperation between Ukrainian water utilities, academic institutions, and international partners. Such collaborations are vital for improving water quality and ensuring safe drinking water for communities across Ukraine