On January 30, the State Institution “Donetsk Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” (SI “DONETSK RCCDP MOH”) held an online working meeting meeting was held to conduct a strategic assessment of the possible man-made threat—accidents at water supply and wastewater treatment facilities—and the associated risks to public health in the region.
During the meeting, the situation with water supply and wastewater treatment in the Donetsk region, particularly in frontline communities, was discussed. The possible sanitary and epidemiological risks to public health of accidents at water supply and wastewater treatment facilities were identified, including the likelihood of outbreaks and an increase in acute waterborne intestinal infections, the occurrence of food poisoning, deterioration in compliance with drinking regimes and personal hygiene conditions, violation of sanitary living conditions of the population, water supply to healthcare facilities and preschool institutions, continuity of medical care, food production and processing conditions, as well as contamination of water sources, etc.
During the risk assessment, the most vulnerable groups of the population were identified separately: the elderly, persons with disabilities, young children, internally displaced persons, etc.
An external expert from the Main Directorate of the State Food and Consumer Service in Donetsk Oblast joined the discussion and provided detailed information on existing water supply facilities, departmental laboratory control of drinking water quality, and the service's readiness to operate in the event of emergencies at water supply and wastewater facilities.
A representative of the Regional Center for Material and Technical Support of Healthcare Facilities reported on the supply of drinking and technical water to healthcare facilities in case of emergencies.
A representative of the Siversko-Donetsk Basin Water Resources Administration reported on the functioning of the state surface water monitoring system and the list of indicators studied by the basin administration's laboratories in the Donetsk region.
Based on the results of the meeting, the level of risk of man-made threats—accidents at water supply and wastewater facilities—was determined to be high. This assessment is due to the scale of the possible 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' work continues.