Pervomaisk in southern Ukraine strengthens reliable water supply with support from EU and Nefco

A new treatment line at the water treatment plant in Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Region, has been brought into operation. Financed by the European Union and managed by Nefco (an international financial institution owned by the Nordic countries), the project addresses urgent challenges in the municipal water supply system and ensures more reliable access to water for the local population.

Pervomaisk is home to around 57,700 people, including approximately 11,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Increased population pressure following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has placed additional strain on the city’s outdated water infrastructure. The previous treatment facility, built in 1967, has long suffered from high electricity consumption, excessive water losses and frequent interruptions in water supply, making it difficult to ensure a stable supply of drinking water.

Oleh Demchenko, Mayor of Pervomaisk, said that the new water treatment line is not only a modern facility that meets today’s standards: “This reconstruction is about people’s safety, quality of life, the health of our children and the resilience of our community in times of war,” he said.

The works started in December 2024 and were completed in April 2026. With grant financing of around €3 million from the European Union, the project included the construction of a new treatment line and the rehabilitation of raw water intake facilities, first-lift pumping stations and raw water conveyance infrastructure. The new treatment line at the water facility has a capacity of 7,000 m³ per day and uses membrane ultrafiltration technology, ensuring stable water quality regardless of variations in source water conditions.

The new treatment line will improve efficiency. Electricity consumption is expected to fall by around 1,230 MWh annually and greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 475 tonnes annually. 

As part of the broader modernisation of the city’s water supply system, reconstruction of the main water supply pipeline is currently ongoing, with grant financing of approximately €3.6 million from Denmark, through Impact Fund Denmark, and a 10% local contribution. Scheduled for completion in late 2026, the investment will improve supply reliability and ensure the overall effective operation of the new water treatment plant.

Find out more

Press release