The Volyn Regional Development Agency (RDA) joined forces of Horokhiv, Lokachi, and Pavlivka communities in Volyn region to develop an initiative aimed to conserve and use drinking water efficiently through the modernisation of centralised water supply systems.

The initiative, which will be implemented with the support of the Swiss-Ukrainian UCORD Project, marks the launch of a partnership between three communities in Volyn region, situated on the Great European Watershed, aimed to modernise water supply systems, improve the energy efficiency and energy independence of public utilities, and establish sustainable mechanisms for inter-municipal cooperation.

‘For UCORD Project, initiatives that bring together communities and regional partners around shared infrastructure solutions are particularly valuable. The project in Volyn region is a perfect example of such cooperation: three communities are jointly implementing an initiative aimed to improve the reliability of water supply, energy efficiency, and the resilience of systems in wartime conditions. The Volyn Regional Development Agency plays a key coordinating and advisory role in the development and implementation of the project. We are convinced that partnerships like this form the basis for the sustainable development of communities and regions and for improving people’s quality of life,’ said Maryna Bryl, UCORD Project Leader.

The implementation of this initiative will ensure high-quality supply of water to about 18,000 residents (40% of the total population of the three communities), reduce the loss of drinking water, minimise the number of network failures, and decrease the consumption of electricity by public utility companies.

The joint project involves the modernisation of power supply systems, including the installation of renewable energy sources (RES) at water intake points, the replacement of pumping and electrical equipment, the establishment of control centres, and the implementation of a monitoring system at the boreholes in all three communities to enable real-time network management. The total project budget is CHF 745,600 (80% grant funding from UCORD, 20% co-financing from local budgets). Implementation is scheduled for May–November 2026.

The initiative became possible thanks to the consolidation of projects from individual communities into a single portfolio. To implement it, the communities plan to sign a cooperation agreement between local governments in the form of implementing joint projects. Moreover, within the framework of the initiative, the communities plan to update and harmonise local water supply and sanitation development programmes in order to continue reaping the benefits of inter-municipal cooperation. 

The Volyn RDA is responsible for developing a comprehensive project proposal. Should the application pass the independent evaluation and be approved, a grant agreement will be signed and the initiative implemented. The initiative also aims to develop the institutional capacity of the RDA in the development and implementation of infrastructure projects that enhance the competitiveness of the regions.

‘For the Volyn RDA, this initiative represents a new level of inter-municipal partnership. Our team is coordinating cooperation between the communities, developing the project proposal, and supporting the initiative in line with international requirements and the donor’s standards. The modernisation of water supply systems in three neighbouring communities also lays the foundation for the development of joint approaches and effective mechanisms for inter-municipal cooperation, which can subsequently be developed and scaled up in other communities and regions,’ said Orest Sorokopud, Director of the Volyn RDA.

Community representatives say the following about the significance of the initiative:

Viktor Hodyk, Mayor of Horokhiv, ‘For Horokhiv community, a high-quality water supply is one of the key priorities, therefore we initiated the development of this inter-municipal project. Its implementation will enable the modernisation of the water supply systems in the three communities and enhance their energy independence.’

Bohdan Ius, Mayor of Lokachi, ‘This is an extremely important project for all three communities, and its results will primarily benefit the residents. For the first time, three different communities – urban, settlement, and rural – have joined forces through inter-municipal cooperation to implement such a large-scale project. Important to note is that coordination and communication are provided by the Volyn RDA. We hope for a positive decision and a swift start.’

Andrii Sapozhnyk, Mayor of Pavlivka, ‘Ensuring access to high-quality drinking water is a critically important task for us, as it directly affects the comfort of our residents. However, we are convinced that community development today is impossible without partnership and cooperation with neighbouring communities. We are grateful to the RDA for bringing us together around shared solutions and helping to launch initiatives that matter to people. Our joint efforts have already made a good start, and we are confident that there are even more results to come for community development.’

The Swiss-Ukrainian project “Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development”, UCORD is implemented with the support of Switzerland via Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by NIRAS Sweden AB.

Photo courtesy of the NGO “Misto. Reboot”