On February 18, the Donetsk Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine held an online working meeting on the strategic risk assessment of possible contamination of the surface source of centralized water supply—the Siverskyi Donets River—with petroleum products — and its potential impact on the public health of the region's population.
During the meeting, the hydroecological situation in the river basin, emergencies that occurred during the period of martial law, and the possible consequences of fuel and lubricants entering the water body were discussed. Probable sanitary and epidemiological risks were identified, in particular the threat of acute and chronic intoxication in the event of contaminated drinking water use, risks during swimming, and the possible negative impact of fish consumption due to the bioaccumulation of toxic substances.
The discussion highlighted the need for continuous laboratory monitoring of water quality, prompt notification of the population in case of emergencies, and proper coordination of the relevant services in order to prevent negative impacts on public health and ensure the stable functioning of the region's water supply system.
An external expert from the Main Directorate of the State Food and Consumer Service in Donetsk region joined the discussion and provided detailed information on the service's readiness to work in emergency situations related to the ingress of petroleum products into surface water bodies. In particular, the issue of readiness to initiate preventive measures at water supply enterprises, recreational areas, fish product sales outlets, etc., as well as mechanisms for promptly informing the population about potential dangers in the event of relevant risks, was highlighted.
A representative of the Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Donetsk Regional State Administration reported on the operation and current status of automated monitoring systems installed on the Siverskyi Donets River and outlined the existing environmental risks.
Based on the results of the meeting, the level of risk of a man-made threat—contamination of the surface source of centralized water supply of the Siverskyi Donets River with petroleum products—was determined to be moderate. This assessment is based on the scale of the potential impact of such accidents on key life support systems and public health, and requires a systematic cross-sectoral approach to protecting the population.
The experts are continuing their work.